πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,207 in Martigny versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,987 in Martigny versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,768 in Martigny versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Martigny is roughly 149% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Martigny is 139% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.74CHFΒ 24.29
$11.94MX$208
157.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131CHFΒ 103
$42.75MX$744
205.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.66CHFΒ 14.74
$10.59MX$184
76.20%
Cappuccino
$4.46CHFΒ 3.53
$3.62MX$63.0
23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96CHFΒ 3.92
$1.47MX$25.54
237.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04CHFΒ 3.19
$0.94MX$16.41
329.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53CHFΒ 5.94
$3.09MX$53.8
143.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52CHFΒ 5.94
$4.46MX$77.6
68.61%
π Groceries & Markets
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHFΒ 1.76
$1.43MX$24.80
55.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55CHFΒ 2.80
$1.88MX$32.79
88.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.75CHFΒ 3.75
$1.63MX$28.34
191.41%
Eggs
$7.05CHFΒ 5.57
$2.64MX$45.99
167.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.99CHFΒ 21.32
$8.21MX$143
228.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$22.55CHFΒ 17.82
$8.29MX$144
172.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.64CHFΒ 28.16
$11.10MX$193
221.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08CHFΒ 2.43
$2.65MX$46.14
16.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01CHFΒ 1.59
$1.50MX$26.11
34.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54CHFΒ 2.01
$1.99MX$34.59
27.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.40CHFΒ 5.85
$2.08MX$36.13
255.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20CHFΒ 1.73
$1.79MX$31.11
22.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34CHFΒ 1.85
$2.18MX$37.87
7.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63CHFΒ 2.08
$1.08MX$18.73
143.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36CHFΒ 0.28
$1.04MX$18.04
-65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.71CHFΒ 8.46
$3.97MX$69.1
169.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.89CHFΒ 10.18
$10.20MX$178
26.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56CHFΒ 2.02
$1.73MX$30.04
47.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18CHFΒ 3.30
$2.50MX$43.46
67.20%
π Getting Around
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.00CHFΒ 3.16
$0.52MX$9.02
669.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101CHFΒ 79.4
$26.97MX$469
272.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.84CHFΒ 5.41
$3.14MX$54.7
117.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.54CHFΒ 3.59
$2.40MX$41.80
89.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.8CHFΒ 49.58
$3.09MX$53.7
1931.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20CHFΒ 1.74
$1.27MX$22.16
73.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2KCHFΒ 32.5K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
33.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KCHFΒ 29.9K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
62.46%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123CHFΒ 97.0
$82.0MX$1,427
49.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.6CHFΒ 58.1
$22.45MX$391
227.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3CHFΒ 42.11
$29.66MX$516
79.74%
π Sport & Entertainment
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.0CHFΒ 68.7
$51.9MX$903
67.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.77CHFΒ 35.36
$18.67MX$325
139.80%
Cinema Ticket
$18.21CHFΒ 14.39
$4.97MX$86.5
266.40%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,232CHFΒ 973
$198MX$3,442
522.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.6KCHFΒ 27.3K
$5,273MX$91.7K
556.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125CHFΒ 99.1
$36.34MX$632
245.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.19CHFΒ 37.28
$40.05MX$697
17.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134CHFΒ 106
$79.9MX$1,390
68.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148CHFΒ 117
$88.9MX$1,547
66.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,666CHFΒ 1,316
$963MX$16.8K
72.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,438CHFΒ 1,136
$465MX$8,086
209.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,799CHFΒ 2,211
$1,596MX$27.8K
75.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,501CHFΒ 1,976
$1,209MX$21.0K
106.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Martigny
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,826CHFΒ 4,602
$720MX$12.5K
708.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Martigny: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,666 in Martigny and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Martigny pays 709% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $131 in Martigny vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $553 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Martigny vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost β living expenses run 149% lower than in Martigny. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Martigny pays 709% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Martigny vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,666 in Martigny versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 121% higher in Martigny. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Martigny vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen β a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $131 in Martigny. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,207 in Martigny, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Martigny. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Martigny or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 149% less than in Martigny. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.