Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Solothurn

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,753 in Solothurn, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Solothurn, Switzerland
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Solothurn
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$2,753
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Solothurn

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 Solothurn actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,753 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Solothurn $2,753

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,410 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Solothurn $4,410

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,067 in Solothurn, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Solothurn $6,067

Playa del Carmen is about 56% cheaper than Solothurn, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Solothurn is 102% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$30.77 CHF 25.48
-64.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$147 CHF 122
-70.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$18.33 CHF 15.17
-35.73%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$6.67 CHF 5.52
-42.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.89
$5.31 CHF 4.40
-75.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.58
$5.33 CHF 4.41
-85.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$6.59 CHF 5.46
-51.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.9
$5.89 CHF 4.88
-16.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.20
$2.19 CHF 1.81
-35.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.30
$3.76 CHF 3.12
-40.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.40
$3.40 CHF 2.82
-58.24%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.00
$8.42 CHF 6.97
-70.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$22.43 CHF 18.57
-67.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$26.36 CHF 21.83
-70.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$60.1 CHF 49.74
-78.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$2.92 CHF 2.41
-4.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.49
$1.49 CHF 1.23
-8.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.52
$3.52 CHF 2.92
-27.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.55
$4.26 CHF 3.52
-50.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.11
$1.65 CHF 1.36
17.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.13
$1.84 CHF 1.52
2.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.36
$1.55 CHF 1.29
-25.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.96
$1.01 CHF 0.84
16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.0
$10.81 CHF 8.95
-60.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$14.12 CHF 11.69
-29.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.50
$2.91 CHF 2.41
-45.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.76
$3.11 CHF 2.58
-14.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$4.68 CHF 3.87
-88.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$7.96 CHF 6.59
-37.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$4.47 CHF 3.70
-25.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$88.1 CHF 72.9
-93.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.90
$2.23 CHF 1.84
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.0K
$30.4K CHF 25.2K
-32.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.2K
$35.0K CHF 29.0K
-32.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,580
$97.8 CHF 81.0
-13.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$30.67 CHF 25.39
-23.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$54.3 CHF 44.99
-47.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$89.4 CHF 74.0
-36.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$17.05 CHF 14.11
69.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.7
$17.87 CHF 14.79
-71.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,848
$3,421 CHF 2,832
-93.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$19.5K CHF 16.1K
-79.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$138 CHF 114
-68.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$41.96 CHF 34.74
-1.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,382
$159 CHF 132
-53.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,663
$246 CHF 203
-63.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$1,154 CHF 955
-15.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,095
$1,043 CHF 864
-63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$1,803 CHF 1,493
-5.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$1,718 CHF 1,422
-37.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$9,576 CHF 7,929
-58.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.7K
$4,801 CHF 3,975
28.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
$6,805 CHF 5,634
-89.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.03
464.04%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Solothurn: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Solothurn
$1K 174% $663
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Solothurn
$621 144% $366
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Solothurn
$468 132% $266
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Solothurn
$183 33.6% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Solothurn
$263 136% $151
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Solothurn
$125 85.9% $58
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Solothurn
$49 * 2.8% $1.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,154 in Solothurn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Solothurn are about 9.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $147 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $621 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇭 Solothurn
🕒 Local time
00:05 12:05 AM
06:05 6:05 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
16,599
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.828 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.922 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Solothurn 8,680 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Solothurn

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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Solothurn?
Yes – Solothurn is pricier by about 129%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,130 in Solothurn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,154 in Solothurn.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Solothurn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,753 in Solothurn. That makes Playa del Carmen about 56% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,421 in Solothurn. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Solothurn?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Solothurn at $2,753. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solothurn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Solothurn more family-friendly?
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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Solothurn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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