Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chur Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,127 in Chur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,106 in Chur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,085 in Chur, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 59% cheaper than Chur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Chur is 133% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$30.26 CHF 23.86

-61.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$98.7 CHF 77.8

-57.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$16.12 CHF 12.71

-34.00%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$5.94 CHF 4.69

-40.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.12

$4.45 CHF 3.50

-66.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$4.40 CHF 3.47

-77.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$7.44 CHF 5.87

-60.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$7.44 CHF 5.87

-40.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-38.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$3.69 CHF 2.91

-48.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$4.24 CHF 3.35

-61.32%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.71 CHF 6.08

-67.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$29.74 CHF 23.45

-71.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$34.86 CHF 27.49

-76.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$35.76 CHF 28.19

-69.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$3.75 CHF 2.95

-30.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.32 CHF 1.83

-37.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-25.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$5.61 CHF 4.42

-62.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.72 CHF 1.36

3.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-3.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$2.27 CHF 1.79

-54.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.28 CHF 1.01

-15.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$10.64 CHF 8.38

-61.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$13.84 CHF 10.91

-25.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$2.50 CHF 1.97

-31.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$3.35 CHF 2.64

-22.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$5.56 CHF 4.39

-90.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$191 CHF 150

-86.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$8.06 CHF 6.36

-59.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$4.34 CHF 3.42

-42.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$61.4 CHF 48.40

-94.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.19 CHF 1.73

-40.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$38.3K CHF 30.2K

-20.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$36.4K CHF 28.7K

-35.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

$249 CHF 196

-66.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

$24.39 CHF 19.23

-8.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$48.80 CHF 38.47

-39.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$85.1 CHF 67.1

-39.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$37.06 CHF 29.22

-50.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$21.75 CHF 17.15

-76.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

$2,508 CHF 1,977

-91.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$42.5K CHF 33.5K

-87.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$136 CHF 107

-72.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$37.30 CHF 29.41

6.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$129 CHF 102

-39.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$162 CHF 128

-46.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,501 CHF 1,183

-35.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$1,138 CHF 897

-58.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,915 CHF 2,298

-43.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,546 CHF 2,007

-52.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$10.2K CHF 8,007

-61.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$7,375 CHF 5,815

-11.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$7,132 CHF 5,623

-90.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

471.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,501 in Chur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 974% higher in Chur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $99.0 in Chur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $630 – 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

Playa del Carmen vs Chur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $3,127 in Chur – roughly 141% apart. Chur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,691 in Chur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,508 in Chur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 153% more in Chur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Chur at $3,127. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $3,127 in Chur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.