Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Turgi

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $3,503 in Turgi, rent and utilities included – about $27,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Turgi, Switzerland
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Turgi
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,503
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,503 in Turgi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Turgi $3,503

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,319 in Turgi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Turgi $5,319

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,135 in Turgi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Turgi $7,135

Playa del Carmen is about 66% cheaper than Turgi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Turgi is 157% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$29.97 CHF 24.86
-63.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$127 CHF 105
-65.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$18.47 CHF 15.32
-36.22%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$6.23 CHF 5.16
-38.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$6.28 CHF 5.21
-79.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$6.13 CHF 5.08
-87.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$9.26 CHF 7.68
-65.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$9.43 CHF 7.82
-47.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$2.20 CHF 1.82
-35.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$3.14 CHF 2.60
-29.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$3.31 CHF 2.75
-57.10%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$8.20 CHF 6.80
-69.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$25.98 CHF 21.55
-72.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$27.63 CHF 22.92
-72.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
$41.79 CHF 34.67
-69.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$3.56 CHF 2.95
-21.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$2.34 CHF 1.94
-41.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$2.90 CHF 2.41
-12.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$4.64 CHF 3.85
-54.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$1.69 CHF 1.41
14.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$1.92 CHF 1.59
-1.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$2.29 CHF 1.90
-49.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$1.57 CHF 1.30
-24.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$11.48 CHF 9.52
-62.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$11.95 CHF 9.91
-16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$2.47 CHF 2.05
-36.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$3.03 CHF 2.51
-11.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$4.23 CHF 3.51
-87.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$100 CHF 83.0
-73.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$8.01 CHF 6.64
-37.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$4.50 CHF 3.73
-26.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$86.2 CHF 71.5
-93.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$2.39 CHF 1.98
-39.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$38.8K CHF 32.2K
-46.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$38.9K CHF 32.3K
-39.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$294 CHF 244
-71.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$46.28 CHF 38.39
-49.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$64.9 CHF 53.8
-55.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$90.6 CHF 75.2
-37.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$46.26 CHF 38.38
-37.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$23.32 CHF 19.35
-77.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$2,922 CHF 2,424
-92.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$33.1K CHF 27.4K
-88.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$148 CHF 123
-70.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$80.5 CHF 66.8
-48.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$166 CHF 137
-55.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$201 CHF 167
-55.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$1,741 CHF 1,444
-43.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$1,474 CHF 1,223
-74.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$2,916 CHF 2,419
-41.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$2,463 CHF 2,043
-56.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$16.5K CHF 13.7K
-76.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$12.4K CHF 10.3K
-50.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.42
373.14%

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 Turgi: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Turgi
$1.5K 287% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Turgi
$587 130% $332
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Turgi
$485 140% $282
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Turgi
$405 196% $268
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Turgi
$268 140% $156
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Turgi
$137 104% $70
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Turgi
$147 192% $97

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,741 in Turgi. 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $127 in Turgi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $587 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇭 Turgi
🕒 Local time
13:06 1:06 PM
19:06 7:06 PM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
3,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.83 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.924 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Turgi 8,720 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Turgi

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 Turgi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Turgi?
Yes – Turgi is pricier by about 191%, 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 $5,255 in Turgi. 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 $1,741 in Turgi.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Turgi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $3,503 in Turgi. That’s a gap of about 191%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% 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 Turgi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Turgi at $3,503. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turgi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Turgi 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 191% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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