Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Crans-Montana

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $3,440 in Crans-Montana, rent and utilities included – about $26,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Crans-Montana
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,440
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Crans-Montana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Crans-Montana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,440 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Crans-Montana $3,440

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,216 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Crans-Montana $5,216

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,992 in Crans-Montana, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Crans-Montana $6,992

Playa del Carmen is about 65% cheaper than Crans-Montana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Crans-Montana is 154% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$202
$18.31 CHF 15.15
-40.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$820
$102 CHF 84.1
-56.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$218
$17.87 CHF 14.79
-34.19%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.3
$3.53 CHF 2.92
4.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.88
$4.64 CHF 3.84
-71.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.30
$4.04 CHF 3.35
-79.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.8
$9.85 CHF 8.15
-68.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.6
$9.47 CHF 7.84
-47.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.27
$2.37 CHF 1.96
-37.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.10
$3.44 CHF 2.84
-35.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.43
$3.28 CHF 2.72
-54.88%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$46.17
$7.92 CHF 6.56
-68.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$25.04 CHF 20.72
-69.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$148
$29.16 CHF 24.13
-72.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$233
$42.65 CHF 35.30
-70.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.5
$3.48 CHF 2.88
-20.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.47
$1.70 CHF 1.41
-15.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.55
$2.82 CHF 2.33
-7.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.64
$4.93 CHF 4.08
-56.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.52
$1.61 CHF 1.33
25.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.88
$2.26 CHF 1.87
-11.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.09
$2.24 CHF 1.86
-49.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.26
$1.65 CHF 1.37
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$79.0
$11.10 CHF 9.19
-61.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$186
$11.88 CHF 9.83
-15.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.52
$3.15 CHF 2.60
-51.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.36
$3.45 CHF 2.85
-22.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.77
$4.79 CHF 3.97
-88.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$510
$112 CHF 92.5
-75.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$91.0
$7.48 CHF 6.19
-34.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.7
$3.01 CHF 2.49
13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.8
$62.6 CHF 51.8
-91.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.86
$2.44 CHF 2.02
-40.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$392.5K
$38.7K CHF 32.0K
-45.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$427.0K
$39.3K CHF 32.5K
-41.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,583
$280 CHF 232
-69.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$435
$37.45 CHF 30.99
-37.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$527
$58.4 CHF 48.33
-51.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,154
$99.8 CHF 82.6
-37.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$532
$41.00 CHF 33.94
-30.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.7
$24.52 CHF 20.29
-79.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,730
$2,350 CHF 1,945
-91.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$73.2K
$36.0K CHF 29.8K
-89.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$823
$135 CHF 111
-67.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$767
$79.9 CHF 66.1
-48.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,349
$163 CHF 135
-55.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,662
$187 CHF 155
-52.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.2K
$1,620 CHF 1,341
-39.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,914
$1,562 CHF 1,293
-76.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.2K
$2,733 CHF 2,262
-38.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.3K
$2,753 CHF 2,278
-60.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.3K
$17.5K CHF 14.5K
-77.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.8K
$12.1K CHF 10.0K
-49.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Crans-Montana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
1.98
478.28%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Crans-Montana: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Crans-Montana
$1.6K 319% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Crans-Montana
$600 132% $341
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Crans-Montana
$345 72.5% $145
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Crans-Montana
$376 174% $239
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Crans-Montana
$254 128% $143
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Crans-Montana
$149 106% $76
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Crans-Montana
$153 197% $102

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,620 in Crans-Montana. 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 $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $102 in Crans-Montana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $600 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇭 Crans-Montana
🕒 Local time
19:46 7:46 PM
01:46 1:46 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
10,218
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 18.55 MXN (100 MXN = 5.39 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 27, 2026: 1 USD = 0.828 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.927 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Crans-Montana 8,710 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Crans-Montana

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Crans-Montana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Crans-Montana?
Crans-Montana costs about 186% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Crans-Montana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,159 in Crans-Montana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Crans-Montana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $979 there versus $1,620 in Crans-Montana.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Crans-Montana?
Groceries cost about 132% more in Crans-Montana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Crans-Montana?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $102 in Crans-Montana. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Crans-Montana?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Crans-Montana at $3,440. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crans-Montana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 186% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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