😐A single person spends $3,292 per month in Stabio vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,216 per month in Stabio vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,141 per month in Stabio vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stabio costs about 161% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stabio sits 146% 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
$30.35CHF 23.80
$11.67MX$202
160.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$165CHF 130
$41.88MX$726
295.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.53CHF 14.53
$10.40MX$180
78.17%
Cappuccino
$4.34CHF 3.40
$3.61MX$62.6
20.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90CHF 3.84
$1.47MX$25.45
233.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06CHF 3.18
$0.91MX$15.80
346.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25CHF 5.69
$3.03MX$52.6
139.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59CHF 5.95
$4.47MX$77.4
69.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28CHF 1.79
$1.38MX$23.83
65.22%
White Bread(500g)
$3.61CHF 2.83
$1.84MX$31.93
96.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.66CHF 3.66
$1.61MX$27.82
189.44%
Eggs
$6.99CHF 5.48
$2.57MX$44.52
171.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.48CHF 21.55
$8.49MX$147
223.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$36.63CHF 28.72
$8.49MX$147
331.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.71CHF 35.05
$10.99MX$190
306.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07CHF 2.41
$2.73MX$47.25
12.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01CHF 1.58
$1.50MX$25.92
34.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53CHF 1.98
$1.96MX$33.93
29.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.45CHF 5.84
$2.12MX$36.70
251.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18CHF 1.71
$1.86MX$32.30
17.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26CHF 1.77
$2.17MX$37.67
4.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55CHF 2.00
$1.07MX$18.59
138.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25CHF 0.98
$1.05MX$18.18
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.55CHF 8.27
$4.19MX$72.6
151.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.93CHF 10.14
$10.28MX$178
25.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54CHF 1.99
$1.67MX$28.87
52.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19CHF 3.29
$2.49MX$43.12
68.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.95CHF 3.10
$0.54MX$9.37
631.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.4CHF 77.9
$26.27MX$455
278.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.60CHF 5.18
$3.10MX$53.8
112.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.44CHF 3.48
$2.46MX$42.66
80.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.4CHF 48.93
$3.24MX$56.1
1826.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16CHF 1.69
$1.26MX$21.83
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5KCHF 31.8K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
34.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KCHF 29.4K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
60.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$202CHF 158
$84.0MX$1,456
140.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.4CHF 53.6
$22.21MX$385
207.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.2CHF 42.46
$29.65MX$514
82.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.9CHF 68.2
$52.6MX$912
65.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.26CHF 14.32
$4.95MX$85.7
268.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,226CHF 961
$198MX$3,438
517.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.6KCHF 27.2K
$5,322MX$92.2K
551.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107CHF 84.2
$35.95MX$623
198.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.79CHF 37.47
$40.06MX$694
19.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136CHF 106
$78.8MX$1,365
72.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152CHF 120
$86.5MX$1,499
76.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708CHF 1,339
$977MX$16.9K
74.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,486CHF 1,165
$471MX$8,158
215.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,847CHF 2,232
$1,595MX$27.6K
78.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,457CHF 1,926
$1,215MX$21.1K
102.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.8KCHF 10.8K
$4,032MX$69.9K
241.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.1KCHF 9,451
$6,579MX$114.0K
83.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stabio versus $977 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 $165 in Stabio versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $663 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 161%, 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 $4,938 per month in Stabio and $1,891 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,292 in Stabio and $1,261 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 278% 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 Stabio or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Stabio at $3,292. 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.