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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,305 in Schaan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,195 in Schaan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,084 in Schaan, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 4% cheaper than Schaan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Schaan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Schaan 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$27.42 CHF 22.21

-56.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$80.7 CHF 65.4

-48.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$14.87 CHF 12.05

-27.71%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$6.67 CHF 5.40

-47.53%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$3.14 CHF 2.55

-53.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$6.31 CHF 5.11

-86.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$4.89 CHF 3.96

-39.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$3.72 CHF 3.02

21.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.91 CHF 1.55

-25.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$4.91 CHF 3.97

-62.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$6.03 CHF 4.88

-58.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$29.46 CHF 23.86

-71.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$24.89 CHF 20.16

-66.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$48.42 CHF 39.22

-77.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$8.70 CHF 7.05

-75.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$2.48 CHF 2.01

-56.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$12.08 CHF 9.79

-15.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$2.42 CHF 1.96

-78.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$2.53 CHF 2.05

-47.83%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$87.6 CHF 71.0

-6.39%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$33.35 CHF 27.01

-31.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$44.40 CHF 35.97

-32.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$124 CHF 101

-58.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$19.33 CHF 15.65

-74.24%

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$1,860 CHF 1,507

-49.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$3,091 CHF 2,504

-46.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$9,825 CHF 7,958

-58.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$6,217 CHF 5,036

4.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$8,891 CHF 7,202

-92.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

185.50%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Schaan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,860 in Schaan. 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 1260% higher in Schaan, 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 $81.0 in Schaan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $548 – 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 Schaan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Schaan is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,958 in Schaan. 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.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Schaan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $81.0 in Schaan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Schaan at $1,305. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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, Schaan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.