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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Schaan vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,195 per month in Schaan vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Schaan vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Schaan costs about 4% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Schaan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Schaan 2% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.42 CHF 22.17

$11.99 MX$210

128.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 CHF 65.2

$41.78 MX$733

93.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.87 CHF 12.03

$10.75 MX$189

38.33%

Cappuccino

$6.67 CHF 5.39

$3.50 MX$61.3

90.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 CHF 2.54

$1.45 MX$25.41

116.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.31 CHF 5.10

$0.88 MX$15.52

617.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 CHF 3.95

$2.95 MX$51.7

65.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 CHF 3.01

$4.51 MX$79.1

-17.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 CHF 1.55

$1.43 MX$25.12

33.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.91 CHF 3.97

$1.84 MX$32.23

166.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

Eggs

$6.03 CHF 4.87

$2.51 MX$44.06

140.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$29.46 CHF 23.82

$8.28 MX$145

255.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.89 CHF 20.12

$8.43 MX$148

195.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$48.42 CHF 39.15

$10.68 MX$187

353.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

Tomato (1kg)

$8.70 CHF 7.03

$2.09 MX$36.74

316.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 CHF 2.01

$1.07 MX$18.84

131.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$12.08 CHF 9.77

$10.17 MX$178

18.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.42 CHF 1.96

$0.51 MX$8.93

374.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.53 CHF 2.05

$1.32 MX$23.17

91.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$520.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$415.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$87.6 CHF 70.8

$82.0 MX$1,439

6.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.35 CHF 26.96

$22.95 MX$403

45.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.40 CHF 35.90

$30.11 MX$528

47.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 CHF 101

$52.0 MX$912

139.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$19.33 CHF 15.63

$4.98 MX$87.3

288.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 CHF 1,504

$947 MX$16.6K

96.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,091 CHF 2,499

$1,644 MX$28.8K

88.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,825 CHF 7,943

$4,056 MX$71.1K

142.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,217 CHF 5,027

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-3.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,891 CHF 7,189

$654 MX$11.5K

1259.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-64.97%

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

Last update for Schaan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,860 in Schaan versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. 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 1260% higher in Schaan, 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 $81.0 in Schaan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $548 vs $249 – 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

Schaan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Schaan is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Schaan and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 120% more in Schaan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Schaan and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Schaan at $1,305. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schaan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Schaan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.