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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,974 in Dubendorf.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,958 in Dubendorf.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $7,942 in Dubendorf.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 67% less than in Dubendorf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Dubendorf is 197% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$30.79 CHF 24.27

-61.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$150 CHF 119

-72.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$18.42 CHF 14.52

-42.24%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.38 CHF 5.03

-44.83%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$5.85 CHF 4.61

-74.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$5.40 CHF 4.25

-82.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$7.41 CHF 5.85

-60.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$6.99 CHF 5.51

-36.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$2.15 CHF 1.69

-35.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$3.26 CHF 2.57

-42.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$4.08 CHF 3.22

-59.80%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.26 CHF 5.72

-65.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$29.29 CHF 23.09

-71.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$31.91 CHF 25.16

-73.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$49.09 CHF 38.70

-78.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$3.18 CHF 2.50

-18.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.81 CHF 2.21

-48.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$3.09 CHF 2.43

-38.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$7.09 CHF 5.59

-70.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$2.78 CHF 2.19

-35.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$2.27 CHF 1.79

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$2.55 CHF 2.01

-59.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.73 CHF 1.37

-37.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$11.01 CHF 8.68

-62.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$15.50 CHF 12.22

-33.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$2.24 CHF 1.76

-23.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$2.95 CHF 2.32

-12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$7.71 CHF 6.08

-93.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$123 CHF 97.1

-78.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$6.87 CHF 5.42

-52.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$4.25 CHF 3.35

-41.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$79.7 CHF 62.9

-95.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.31 CHF 1.82

-43.29%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$39.6K CHF 31.2K

-23.56%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$40.2K CHF 31.7K

-41.69%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$260 CHF 205

-68.18%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$35.53 CHF 28.02

-37.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$52.7 CHF 41.56

-44.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$87.4 CHF 68.9

-40.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$55.8 CHF 43.96

-67.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$25.12 CHF 19.80

-79.82%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$2,686 CHF 2,118

-92.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$39.6K CHF 31.3K

-86.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$147 CHF 116

-74.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$64.5 CHF 50.8

-38.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$147 CHF 116

-46.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$202 CHF 159

-56.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,855 CHF 1,462

-47.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$1,860 CHF 1,467

-74.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,681 CHF 2,114

-38.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,917 CHF 2,299

-58.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$14.0K CHF 11.1K

-71.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$10.0K CHF 7,885

-35.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$4,069 CHF 3,208

-83.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

2.5

356.80%

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 Dubendorf: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,855 in Dubendorf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dubendorf pays 513% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $150 in Dubendorf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $667 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

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

Playa del Carmen and Dubendorf differ by about 206% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $3,974 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Dubendorf earns 513% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,855 in Dubendorf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,974 in Dubendorf – a 206% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 366% less than in Dubendorf. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,974 in Dubendorf, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Dubendorf. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Dubendorf are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 206% less than in Dubendorf. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.