😐A single person spends $3,542 per month in Muralto vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,313 per month in Muralto vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,083 per month in Muralto vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Muralto costs about 181% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Muralto sits 165% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.70CHF 25.10
$11.95MX$209
156.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$143CHF 117
$41.94MX$733
239.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.38CHF 15.03
$10.42MX$182
76.39%
Cappuccino
$6.18CHF 5.05
$3.51MX$61.4
76.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25CHF 4.29
$1.52MX$26.50
245.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72CHF 3.86
$0.91MX$15.91
418.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.48CHF 6.93
$3.04MX$53.1
178.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.44CHF 6.08
$4.37MX$76.4
70.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.76
$1.42MX$24.84
51.41%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45CHF 2.82
$1.83MX$32.00
88.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.04CHF 3.30
$1.63MX$28.57
147.85%
Eggs
$7.59CHF 6.20
$2.54MX$44.38
198.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.16CHF 23.85
$8.57MX$150
240.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$32.98CHF 26.97
$8.49MX$148
288.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$48.30CHF 39.50
$10.80MX$189
347.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65CHF 2.98
$2.75MX$48.14
32.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.88
$1.44MX$25.10
59.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02CHF 2.47
$1.89MX$32.97
59.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.33CHF 5.18
$2.17MX$37.93
191.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47CHF 2.02
$1.78MX$31.10
38.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35CHF 1.92
$2.22MX$38.87
5.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53CHF 2.07
$1.07MX$18.68
136.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32CHF 1.08
$1.08MX$18.87
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.14CHF 9.11
$4.15MX$72.5
168.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.03CHF 11.47
$10.45MX$183
34.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46CHF 2.01
$1.74MX$30.47
41.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26CHF 2.67
$2.58MX$45.11
26.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.81CHF 3.12
$0.51MX$8.97
647.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.3CHF 80.4
$25.94MX$453
278.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.94CHF 6.49
$3.21MX$56.1
147.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.35CHF 3.56
$2.50MX$43.73
74.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$79.1CHF 64.7
$3.19MX$55.7
2380.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.83
$1.26MX$21.96
76.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.0KCHF 32.7K
$29.7KMX$518.8K
34.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.3KCHF 33.8K
$23.7KMX$413.9K
74.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265CHF 216
$82.0MX$1,434
222.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.10CHF 40.15
$22.73MX$397
116.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.8CHF 48.89
$29.42MX$514
103.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.5CHF 71.6
$52.2MX$912
67.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45MX$322
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.83CHF 18.67
$4.93MX$86.2
363.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,861CHF 2,340
$202MX$3,526
1317.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.3KCHF 28.9K
$5,217MX$91.2K
576.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$135CHF 110
$35.93MX$628
276.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.4CHF 56.0
$40.33MX$705
69.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 122
$79.9MX$1,396
86.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189CHF 154
$89.3MX$1,561
111.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,681CHF 1,375
$948MX$16.6K
77.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,444CHF 1,181
$465MX$8,132
210.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,851CHF 2,332
$1,630MX$28.5K
74.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,511CHF 2,053
$1,193MX$20.8K
110.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.2KCHF 13.2K
$3,933MX$68.7K
311.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.5KCHF 11.1K
$6,428MX$112.3K
110.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Muralto: July 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,681 in Muralto versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $143 in Muralto versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $661 vs $252 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Muralto vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Muralto and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,542 in Muralto, $1,259 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 181% apart. Muralto costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Muralto compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,313 per month in Muralto and $1,888 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Muralto and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Muralto and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $2,861 per month in Muralto and $202 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 162% more in Muralto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Muralto at $3,542. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Muralto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Muralto and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Playa del Carmen to $3,542 in Muralto. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Muralto or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Muralto and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Muralto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.