๐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,408 in Uzwil, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,150 in Uzwil, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,892 in Uzwil, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 63% cheaper than Uzwil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Uzwil is 154% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$30.73CHFย 24.09
-62.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$141CHFย 111
-70.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$15.70CHFย 12.31
-33.76%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$6.46CHFย 5.07
-44.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$5.46CHFย 4.28
-73.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$4.28CHFย 3.36
-78.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$7.56CHFย 5.93
-59.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$6.90CHFย 5.41
-35.22%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$2.21CHFย 1.73
-37.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.59CHFย 2.03
-28.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$3.63CHFย 2.84
-55.65%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$7.97CHFย 6.25
-67.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$27.07CHFย 21.22
-68.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$32.17CHFย 25.22
-73.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$41.16CHFย 32.27
-73.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.11CHFย 2.44
-12.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.84CHFย 1.44
-18.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.54CHFย 1.99
-22.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$6.15CHFย 4.82
-65.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.51CHFย 1.97
-25.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.29CHFย 1.80
-5.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.53CHFย 1.99
-57.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.09CHFย 0.86
-3.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$10.88CHFย 8.53
-61.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$11.97CHFย 9.39
-14.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.18CHFย 1.71
-23.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.27CHFย 1.78
9.69%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.99CHFย 3.13
-86.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$97.3CHFย 76.3
-73.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$6.62CHFย 5.19
-53.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$4.20CHFย 3.29
-41.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$78.5CHFย 61.6
-95.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$2.18CHFย 1.71
-42.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$39.8KCHFย 31.2K
-24.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$41.2KCHFย 32.3K
-43.12%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$249CHFย 195
-66.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$58.7CHFย 46.02
-62.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$52.6CHFย 41.24
-43.63%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$88.8CHFย 69.6
-40.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$22.14CHFย 17.36
-77.64%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$2,781CHFย 2,181
-92.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$42.1KCHFย 33.0K
-87.36%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$139CHFย 109
-74.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$66.4CHFย 52.1
-39.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$134CHFย 105
-41.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$162CHFย 127
-46.60%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,722CHFย 1,350
-43.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,440CHFย 1,129
-67.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,834CHFย 2,222
-43.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,500CHFย 1,960
-51.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$13.8KCHFย 10.8K
-70.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$11.7KCHFย 9,172
-43.77%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Uzwil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
2.5
356.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Uzwil: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,722 in Uzwil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $141 in Uzwil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $602 โ 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 Uzwil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uzwil cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Uzwil 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $5,112 in Uzwil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 vs Uzwil?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $3,408 in Uzwil. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 270% 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 Playa del Carmen or Uzwil?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Uzwil at $3,408. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uzwil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Uzwil more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ 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 Uzwil?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ 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, Uzwil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared