😐A single person spends $3,494 per month in Stabio vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,483 per month in Stabio vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,473 per month in Stabio vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stabio costs about 168% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stabio sits 153% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.98CHF 28.44
$11.96MX$203
192.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$173CHF 141
$47.38MX$805
265.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.37CHF 16.56
$11.75MX$200
73.36%
Cappuccino
$4.55CHF 3.70
$4.12MX$70.0
10.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96CHF 4.04
$1.40MX$23.77
254.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08CHF 3.32
$0.91MX$15.50
348.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.64CHF 7.84
$3.21MX$54.5
200.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50CHF 6.09
$7.07MX$120
6.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.82
$1.68MX$28.48
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.80CHF 3.09
$2.15MX$36.53
76.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.10CHF 3.34
$1.77MX$30.14
131.64%
Eggs
$7.38CHF 6.00
$2.82MX$47.82
161.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.03CHF 21.16
$9.20MX$156
182.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$29.67CHF 24.13
$9.23MX$157
221.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$41.74CHF 33.94
$12.64MX$215
230.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.38CHF 2.75
$2.95MX$50.1
14.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66CHF 1.35
$1.58MX$26.82
5.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65CHF 2.15
$2.22MX$37.76
19.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.45CHF 4.43
$2.36MX$40.14
130.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90CHF 1.55
$1.99MX$33.85
-4.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14CHF 1.74
$1.98MX$33.62
8.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36CHF 1.92
$1.24MX$21.07
90.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17CHF 0.95
$1.21MX$20.58
-3.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.17CHF 9.08
$4.60MX$78.2
142.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.71CHF 10.34
$10.52MX$179
20.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81CHF 2.29
$1.69MX$28.74
66.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95CHF 3.22
$2.77MX$47.13
42.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.36CHF 3.55
$0.60MX$10.24
626.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$108CHF 88.2
$29.70MX$505
265.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.91CHF 6.43
$5.24MX$89.0
50.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.71CHF 4.65
$3.65MX$62.0
56.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.1CHF 66.0
$5.78MX$98.3
1303.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$1.54MX$26.13
48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KCHF 29.0K
$22.8KMX$387.3K
56.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8KCHF 32.3K
$25.8KMX$438.5K
54.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231CHF 187
$90.7MX$1,540
154.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.47CHF 18.27
$25.19MX$428
-10.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.95CHF 40.61
$31.75MX$539
57.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.6CHF 68.8
$68.8MX$1,169
22.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1CHF 40.74
$29.37MX$499
70.62%
Cinema Ticket
$20.39CHF 16.58
$4.86MX$82.6
319.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,257CHF 1,022
$226MX$3,834
456.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.6KCHF 28.9K
$4,194MX$71.2K
748.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$166CHF 135
$47.38MX$805
250.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7CHF 46.95
$43.45MX$738
32.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$198CHF 161
$80.2MX$1,363
146.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155CHF 126
$91.4MX$1,552
69.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,737CHF 1,413
$1,086MX$18.4K
60.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,538CHF 1,251
$409MX$6,942
276.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,583CHF 2,100
$1,972MX$33.5K
30.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,476CHF 2,013
$1,281MX$21.8K
93.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.9KCHF 14.6K
$4,046MX$68.7K
342.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.8KCHF 10.4K
$6,704MX$113.9K
91.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.9
11.45
-83.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stabio: September 5, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,737 in Stabio 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $173 in Stabio versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $604 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
Stabio vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stabio?
Yes – Stabio is pricier by about 168%, 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 $5,240 per month in Stabio 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 Stabio and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,494 in Stabio 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 public transport?
Public transport costs about 265% 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 $1,305, than in Stabio at $3,494. 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.