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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,830 per month in Solothurn vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,520 per month in Solothurn vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,211 per month in Solothurn vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Solothurn costs about 125% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Solothurn sits 112% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.23 CHF 25.30
$11.99 MX$209
160.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 CHF 116
$41.78 MX$728
244.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$21.30 CHF 17.25
$10.75 MX$187
98.14%
Cappuccino
$6.53 CHF 5.29
$3.50 MX$60.9
86.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 CHF 4.57
$1.45 MX$25.22
288.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39 CHF 4.37
$0.88 MX$15.41
512.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.88 CHF 5.57
$2.95 MX$51.3
133.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 CHF 5.14
$4.51 MX$78.6
40.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.80
$1.43 MX$24.94
55.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 CHF 2.64
$1.84 MX$31.99
77.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 CHF 2.64
$1.57 MX$27.31
107.64%
Eggs
$7.20 CHF 5.84
$2.51 MX$43.74
186.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.06 CHF 24.35
$8.28 MX$144
263.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$31.44 CHF 25.47
$8.43 MX$147
272.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.66 CHF 32.12
$10.68 MX$186
271.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 CHF 3.37
$2.61 MX$45.43
59.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.89 CHF 2.34
$1.44 MX$25.04
100.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 CHF 2.42
$1.96 MX$34.16
52.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 CHF 3.41
$2.09 MX$36.47
101.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 CHF 1.56
$1.85 MX$32.24
4.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 CHF 1.63
$2.17 MX$37.74
-7.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CHF 2.06
$1.03 MX$17.96
146.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 CHF 0.86
$1.07 MX$18.70
-0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.01 CHF 8.92
$4.10 MX$71.4
168.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.73 CHF 7.88
$10.17 MX$177
-4.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 CHF 2.11
$1.68 MX$29.17
55.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 CHF 1.94
$2.53 MX$43.98
-5.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.66 CHF 2.97
$0.51 MX$8.87
617.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$97.0 CHF 78.6
$26.04 MX$453
272.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.59 CHF 6.15
$3.23 MX$56.3
134.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.18 CHF 3.39
$2.41 MX$41.88
73.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$75.1 CHF 60.8
$3.23 MX$56.2
2224.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 CHF 1.89
$1.32 MX$23.00
76.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K CHF 30.2K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
25.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K CHF 31.5K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
64.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.9 CHF 78.5
$82.0 MX$1,428
18.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.30 CHF 24.54
$22.95 MX$400
32.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.1 CHF 47.86
$30.11 MX$524
96.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.0 CHF 59.2
$52.0 MX$905
40.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.77 CHF 20.06
$18.53 MX$323
33.68%
Cinema Ticket
$25.00 CHF 20.25
$4.98 MX$86.6
402.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,422 CHF 2,772
$197 MX$3,438
1633.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K CHF 15.8K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
264.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 CHF 113
$35.60 MX$620
292.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.89 CHF 35.55
$40.33 MX$702
8.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 CHF 80.4
$78.8 MX$1,371
26.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187 CHF 151
$88.9 MX$1,549
109.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,278 CHF 1,035
$947 MX$16.5K
34.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 CHF 877
$474 MX$8,254
128.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,859 CHF 1,506
$1,644 MX$28.6K
13.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,753 CHF 1,420
$1,211 MX$21.1K
44.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,830 CHF 7,962
$4,056 MX$70.6K
142.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,937 CHF 3,999
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-23.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,802 CHF 5,510
$654 MX$11.4K
940.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.09
11.42
-81.70%

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

Last update for Solothurn: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,278 in Solothurn 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 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 $144 in Solothurn versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 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
Solothurn vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Solothurn?
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 $4,244 per month in Solothurn and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Solothurn and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,830 in Solothurn and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Solothurn or in Playa del Carmen?
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 Solothurn or Playa del Carmen 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, Solothurn or Playa del Carmen?
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.

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