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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,521 in Turgi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,400 in Turgi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,278 in Turgi, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 63% cheaper than Turgi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Turgi is 155% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$29.70 CHF 24.24
-59.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$129 CHF 105
-63.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$18.72 CHF 15.27
-37.23%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$6.55 CHF 5.34
-37.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$6.35 CHF 5.18
-77.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$5.86 CHF 4.78
-84.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$9.36 CHF 7.64
-65.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$9.62 CHF 7.85
-26.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$2.33 CHF 1.90
-27.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$3.07 CHF 2.50
-29.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$3.41 CHF 2.78
-48.09%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$8.10 CHF 6.61
-65.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$26.96 CHF 22.00
-65.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$28.07 CHF 22.91
-67.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$41.34 CHF 33.74
-69.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$3.79 CHF 3.09
-22.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$2.29 CHF 1.87
-31.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$3.01 CHF 2.46
-26.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$4.85 CHF 3.96
-51.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$1.76 CHF 1.44
13.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.96 CHF 1.60
1.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$2.24 CHF 1.83
-44.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$1.65 CHF 1.34
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$11.77 CHF 9.61
-60.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$12.47 CHF 10.18
-15.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$2.57 CHF 2.10
-34.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$3.18 CHF 2.60
-12.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$4.50 CHF 3.67
-86.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$96.4 CHF 78.6
-69.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$8.21 CHF 6.70
-36.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$4.67 CHF 3.81
-21.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$87.8 CHF 71.7
-93.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$2.39 CHF 1.95
-35.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$44.1K CHF 36.0K
-48.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$40.1K CHF 32.7K
-35.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$295 CHF 241
-69.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$54.6 CHF 44.55
-53.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$66.3 CHF 54.1
-52.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$85.8 CHF 70.0
-19.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$51.7 CHF 42.19
-43.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$23.28 CHF 19.00
-79.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$3,010 CHF 2,456
-92.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$32.9K CHF 26.8K
-87.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$148 CHF 121
-67.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$81.3 CHF 66.3
-46.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$168 CHF 137
-52.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$204 CHF 167
-55.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$1,851 CHF 1,511
-41.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$1,351 CHF 1,103
-69.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$3,157 CHF 2,576
-37.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$2,420 CHF 1,975
-47.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$16.3K CHF 13.3K
-75.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$13.5K CHF 11.0K
-50.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Turgi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.43
371.19%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Turgi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,851 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $129 in Turgi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $596 – 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 Turgi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turgi cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Turgi is pricier by about 170%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,282 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. 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 Turgi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $3,521 in Turgi. 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 224% 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 $1,305, than in Turgi at $3,521. 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Turgi?
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, Turgi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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