🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,830 in Solothurn, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,520 in Solothurn, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,211 in Solothurn, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 56% cheaper than Solothurn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Solothurn is 112% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$31.23CHF 25.30
-61.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$144CHF 116
-70.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$21.30CHF 17.25
-49.53%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$6.53CHF 5.29
-46.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$5.64CHF 4.57
-74.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$5.39CHF 4.37
-83.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$6.88CHF 5.57
-57.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$6.34CHF 5.14
-28.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$2.22CHF 1.80
-35.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$3.26CHF 2.64
-43.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$3.26CHF 2.64
-51.84%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$7.20CHF 5.84
-65.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$30.06CHF 24.35
-72.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$31.44CHF 25.47
-73.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$39.66CHF 32.12
-73.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$4.16CHF 3.37
-37.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$2.89CHF 2.34
-50.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$2.99CHF 2.42
-34.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$4.21CHF 3.41
-50.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.93CHF 1.56
-4.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$2.01CHF 1.63
7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$2.54CHF 2.06
-59.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.06CHF 0.86
0.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$11.01CHF 8.92
-62.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$9.73CHF 7.88
4.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.61CHF 2.11
-35.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.40CHF 1.94
5.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$3.66CHF 2.97
-86.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$97.0CHF 78.6
-73.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$7.59CHF 6.15
-57.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$4.18CHF 3.39
-42.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$75.1CHF 60.8
-95.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$2.33CHF 1.89
-43.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$37.2KCHF 30.2K
-20.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$38.8KCHF 31.5K
-39.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$96.9CHF 78.5
-15.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$30.30CHF 24.54
-24.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$59.1CHF 47.86
-49.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$73.0CHF 59.2
-28.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$24.77CHF 20.06
-25.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$25.00CHF 20.25
-80.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$3,422CHF 2,772
-94.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$19.5KCHF 15.8K
-72.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$140CHF 113
-74.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$43.89CHF 35.55
-8.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$99.3CHF 80.4
-20.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$187CHF 151
-52.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$1,278CHF 1,035
-25.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$1,083CHF 877
-56.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,859CHF 1,506
-11.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$1,753CHF 1,420
-30.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$9,830CHF 7,962
-58.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$4,937CHF 3,999
31.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Solothurn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$6,802CHF 5,510
-90.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
2.09
446.41%
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 Solothurn: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,278 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 run about 940% higher in Solothurn, 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 $144 in Solothurn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $604 – 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 Solothurn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solothurn cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Solothurn is pricier by about 125%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,244 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Solothurn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $2,830 in Solothurn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 273% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 $1,256, than in Solothurn at $2,830. 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Solothurn?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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