😐A single person spends $2,801 per month in Solothurn vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,577 per month in Solothurn vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,353 per month in Solothurn vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Solothurn costs about 115% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Solothurn sits 103% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.41CHF 24.82
$11.96MX$203
154.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149CHF 122
$47.38MX$804
215.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.46CHF 15.06
$11.75MX$199
57.11%
Cappuccino
$6.68CHF 5.45
$4.12MX$70.0
62.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63CHF 4.60
$1.40MX$23.74
302.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.37
$0.91MX$15.48
489.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.92CHF 5.65
$3.21MX$54.4
115.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23CHF 5.08
$7.07MX$120
-11.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.82
$1.68MX$28.44
32.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82CHF 3.12
$2.15MX$36.48
77.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53CHF 2.88
$1.77MX$30.10
99.44%
Eggs
$8.83CHF 7.20
$2.82MX$47.76
213.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.83CHF 18.63
$9.20MX$156
148.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$26.51CHF 21.64
$9.23MX$157
187.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$61.7CHF 50.3
$12.64MX$214
387.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96CHF 2.41
$2.95MX$50.1
0.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45CHF 1.18
$1.58MX$26.79
-8.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.52CHF 2.87
$2.22MX$37.70
58.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22CHF 3.45
$2.36MX$40.09
78.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67CHF 1.36
$1.99MX$33.81
-16.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78CHF 1.45
$1.98MX$33.58
-10.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63CHF 1.33
$1.24MX$21.04
31.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00CHF 0.81
$1.21MX$20.55
-17.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.32CHF 9.24
$4.60MX$78.1
146.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32CHF 10.87
$10.52MX$178
26.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89CHF 2.36
$1.69MX$28.70
71.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27CHF 2.67
$2.77MX$47.06
18.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.85CHF 3.96
$0.60MX$10.22
708.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.46CHF 6.91
$5.24MX$88.8
61.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.75CHF 3.88
$3.65MX$61.9
30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$92.5CHF 75.5
$5.78MX$98.1
1500.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36CHF 1.93
$1.54MX$26.09
53.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KCHF 25.6K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
37.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KCHF 29.5K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
40.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.0CHF 80.0
$90.7MX$1,538
8.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.80CHF 25.13
$25.19MX$427
22.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5CHF 47.73
$31.75MX$539
84.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.9CHF 75.0
$68.8MX$1,167
33.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25CHF 14.08
$29.37MX$498
-41.27%
Cinema Ticket
$18.52CHF 15.11
$4.86MX$82.5
281.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,692CHF 3,013
$226MX$3,828
1536.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KCHF 15.9K
$4,194MX$71.1K
363.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$143CHF 117
$47.38MX$804
201.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.91CHF 35.84
$43.45MX$737
1.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$171CHF 139
$80.2MX$1,361
112.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$258CHF 210
$91.4MX$1,550
182.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201CHF 980
$1,086MX$18.4K
10.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072CHF 875
$409MX$6,933
162.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,861CHF 1,519
$1,972MX$33.5K
-5.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,815CHF 1,482
$1,281MX$21.7K
41.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,687CHF 7,906
$4,046MX$68.6K
139.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,010CHF 4,089
$6,704MX$113.7K
-25.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solothurn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,908CHF 5,637
$773MX$13.1K
793.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.07
11.45
-81.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Solothurn: September 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,201 in Solothurn versus $1,086 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 793% 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 $149 in Solothurn versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $629 vs $278 – 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 115%, 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 $4,202 per month in Solothurn and $1,958 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 $2,801 in Solothurn and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $3,692 per month in Solothurn and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
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 $1,305, than in Solothurn at $2,801. 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.