😐A single person spends $3,322 per month in Stabio vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,272 per month in Stabio vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,222 per month in Stabio vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stabio costs about 164% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stabio sits 149% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.33CHF 24.80
$11.95MX$209
153.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$163CHF 134
$41.94MX$733
289.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.49CHF 15.12
$10.42MX$182
77.45%
Cappuccino
$4.41CHF 3.60
$3.51MX$61.4
25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93CHF 4.03
$1.52MX$26.50
224.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15CHF 3.39
$0.91MX$15.91
356.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18CHF 5.87
$3.04MX$53.1
136.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51CHF 6.14
$4.37MX$76.4
71.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17CHF 1.77
$1.42MX$24.84
52.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63CHF 2.96
$1.83MX$32.00
98.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.82CHF 3.94
$1.63MX$28.57
195.71%
Eggs
$7.01CHF 5.73
$2.54MX$44.38
175.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.55CHF 22.52
$8.57MX$150
221.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.34CHF 28.90
$8.49MX$148
316.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.89CHF 36.71
$10.80MX$189
315.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10CHF 2.54
$2.75MX$48.14
12.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03CHF 1.66
$1.44MX$25.10
40.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54CHF 2.08
$1.89MX$32.97
34.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.33CHF 5.99
$2.17MX$37.93
237.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25CHF 1.84
$1.78MX$31.10
26.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.88
$2.22MX$38.87
3.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56CHF 2.09
$1.07MX$18.68
139.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29CHF 1.05
$1.08MX$18.87
19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.30CHF 8.42
$4.15MX$72.5
148.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.54CHF 10.26
$10.45MX$183
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65CHF 2.17
$1.74MX$30.47
52.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01CHF 3.28
$2.58MX$45.11
55.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.01CHF 3.28
$0.51MX$8.97
686.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.4CHF 79.7
$25.94MX$453
275.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.92CHF 5.66
$3.21MX$56.1
115.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.43CHF 3.62
$2.50MX$43.73
77.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.8CHF 51.3
$3.19MX$55.7
1867.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.20CHF 1.79
$1.26MX$21.96
74.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KCHF 33.0K
$29.7KMX$518.8K
35.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KCHF 30.8K
$23.7KMX$413.9K
58.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206CHF 169
$82.0MX$1,434
151.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.1CHF 56.5
$22.73MX$397
203.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5CHF 43.72
$29.42MX$514
81.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.6CHF 72.5
$52.2MX$912
69.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45MX$322
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.12CHF 14.82
$4.93MX$86.2
267.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,235CHF 1,010
$202MX$3,526
512.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.8KCHF 28.5K
$5,217MX$91.2K
567.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107CHF 87.8
$35.93MX$628
198.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.87CHF 39.14
$40.33MX$705
18.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132CHF 108
$79.9MX$1,396
65.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152CHF 124
$89.3MX$1,561
70.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,666CHF 1,363
$948MX$16.6K
75.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,471CHF 1,203
$465MX$8,132
216.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,835CHF 2,318
$1,630MX$28.5K
73.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,422CHF 1,980
$1,193MX$20.8K
102.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.3KCHF 13.4K
$3,933MX$68.7K
315.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.5KCHF 9,421
$6,428MX$112.3K
79.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.42
-78.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stabio: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,666 in Stabio versus $948 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $163 in Stabio versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $657 vs $252 – 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
Stabio vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stabio?
Yes – Stabio is pricier by about 164%, 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 $4,983 per month in Stabio and $1,888 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 Stabio and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,322 in Stabio and $1,259 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 275% 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 Stabio or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Stabio at $3,322. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stabio it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stabio 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, Stabio 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, Stabio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.