๐A single person spends $3,500 per month in Muralto vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $5,297 per month in Muralto vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $7,093 per month in Muralto vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Muralto costs about 178% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Muralto sits 161% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.83CHFย 24.17
$11.67MX$202
164.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$140CHFย 110
$41.88MX$726
233.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.63CHFย 14.61
$10.40MX$180
79.13%
Cappuccino
$5.86CHFย 4.59
$3.61MX$62.6
62.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31CHFย 4.16
$1.47MX$25.45
261.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77CHFย 3.74
$0.91MX$15.80
424.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20CHFย 6.43
$3.03MX$52.6
170.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36CHFย 5.77
$4.47MX$77.4
64.65%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15CHFย 1.69
$1.38MX$23.83
55.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50CHFย 2.74
$1.84MX$31.93
90.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.11CHFย 3.22
$1.61MX$27.82
155.28%
Eggs
$7.46CHFย 5.85
$2.57MX$44.52
190.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.98CHFย 22.72
$8.49MX$147
241.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.63CHFย 26.36
$8.49MX$147
296.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$47.24CHFย 37.04
$10.99MX$190
329.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67CHFย 2.87
$2.73MX$47.25
34.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26CHFย 1.77
$1.50MX$25.92
50.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85CHFย 2.23
$1.96MX$33.93
45.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.14CHFย 4.81
$2.12MX$36.70
189.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CHFย 1.93
$1.86MX$32.30
32.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35CHFย 1.84
$2.17MX$37.67
8.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49CHFย 1.95
$1.07MX$18.59
132.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33CHFย 1.04
$1.05MX$18.18
26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.15CHFย 8.74
$4.19MX$72.6
166.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.83CHFย 12.41
$10.28MX$178
53.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42CHFย 1.90
$1.67MX$28.87
44.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26CHFย 2.55
$2.49MX$43.12
30.92%
๐ Getting Around
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80CHFย 2.98
$0.54MX$9.37
603.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHFย 78.7
$26.27MX$455
281.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.92CHFย 6.21
$3.10MX$53.8
155.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.16CHFย 3.26
$2.46MX$42.66
69.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.5CHFย 63.9
$3.24MX$56.1
2415.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12CHFย 1.66
$1.26MX$21.83
68.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHFย 31.9K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
34.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4KCHFย 32.4K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
76.47%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$262CHFย 206
$84.0MX$1,456
212.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.11CHFย 37.72
$22.21MX$385
116.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6CHFย 46.72
$29.65MX$514
100.98%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.3CHFย 67.6
$52.6MX$912
63.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.91CHFย 17.96
$4.95MX$85.7
362.83%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,882CHFย 2,260
$198MX$3,438
1353.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.2KCHFย 26.8K
$5,322MX$92.2K
543.52%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138CHFย 108
$35.95MX$623
284.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.8CHFย 53.2
$40.06MX$694
69.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148CHFย 116
$78.8MX$1,365
87.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188CHFย 147
$86.5MX$1,499
117.43%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,730CHFย 1,356
$977MX$16.9K
77.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,461CHFย 1,145
$471MX$8,158
210.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,828CHFย 2,217
$1,595MX$27.6K
77.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,442CHFย 1,914
$1,215MX$21.1K
100.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.9KCHFย 10.1K
$4,032MX$69.9K
219.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.0KCHFย 9,444
$6,579MX$114.0K
83.09%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Muralto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Muralto: April 19, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,730 in Muralto versus $977 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $140 in Muralto versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $662 vs $252 โ 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 Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,500 in Muralto, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen โ roughly 178% 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 $5,250 per month in Muralto and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 $2,882 per month in Muralto and $198 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 163% 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 $1,261, than in Muralto at $3,500. 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $3,500 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 โ 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.