😐A single person spends $3,334 per month in Stabio vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,226 per month in Stabio vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,118 per month in Stabio vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stabio costs about 162% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stabio sits 148% 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
$31.01CHF 24.78
$11.87MX$207
161.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$169CHF 135
$42.90MX$749
292.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.32CHF 14.65
$10.65MX$186
72.02%
Cappuccino
$4.25CHF 3.40
$3.45MX$60.2
23.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89CHF 3.91
$1.50MX$26.24
226.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09CHF 3.27
$0.95MX$16.56
330.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.31CHF 5.84
$3.03MX$52.8
141.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36CHF 5.89
$4.61MX$80.4
59.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.79
$1.38MX$24.01
62.32%
White Bread(500g)
$3.62CHF 2.89
$1.85MX$32.24
95.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.68CHF 3.74
$1.61MX$28.11
190.68%
Eggs
$6.74CHF 5.38
$2.59MX$45.26
160.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.95CHF 21.54
$8.26MX$144
226.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.36CHF 28.26
$8.37MX$146
322.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$45.05CHF 36.01
$10.66MX$186
322.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19CHF 2.55
$2.63MX$45.89
21.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94CHF 1.55
$1.49MX$25.96
30.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.00
$1.92MX$33.50
30.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.34CHF 5.87
$2.09MX$36.41
251.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.81
$1.86MX$32.42
22.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.84
$2.26MX$39.47
1.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52CHF 2.02
$1.06MX$18.54
137.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26CHF 1.01
$1.09MX$18.98
15.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.41CHF 8.32
$4.15MX$72.4
150.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.74CHF 10.18
$10.39MX$181
22.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57CHF 2.05
$1.72MX$30.09
49.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22CHF 3.38
$2.61MX$45.60
61.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83CHF 3.06
$0.54MX$9.46
609.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.2CHF 77.7
$26.94MX$470
260.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.70CHF 5.35
$3.13MX$54.6
114.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.56CHF 3.65
$2.51MX$43.82
81.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0CHF 48.75
$3.15MX$55.0
1836.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.72
$1.27MX$22.25
69.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KCHF 32.9K
$30.4KMX$530.1K
35.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3KCHF 29.8K
$23.6KMX$411.3K
58.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205CHF 164
$83.0MX$1,449
147.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.8CHF 54.2
$22.71MX$396
198.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9CHF 43.04
$29.46MX$514
82.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.2CHF 70.5
$51.0MX$890
72.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.43CHF 14.73
$4.93MX$86.0
273.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,236CHF 988
$197MX$3,444
526.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.2KCHF 28.1K
$5,280MX$92.1K
566.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107CHF 85.4
$36.90MX$644
189.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.56CHF 38.01
$39.89MX$696
19.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134CHF 107
$80.0MX$1,396
67.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149CHF 119
$89.5MX$1,561
66.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,708CHF 1,365
$956MX$16.7K
78.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,474CHF 1,178
$477MX$8,327
209.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,804CHF 2,242
$1,646MX$28.7K
70.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,461CHF 1,967
$1,225MX$21.4K
100.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$15.9KCHF 12.7K
$3,918MX$68.4K
305.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.8KCHF 8,641
$6,459MX$112.7K
67.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.6K
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Stabio versus $956 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 $169 in Stabio versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $655 vs $250 – 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 162%, 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 $5,002 per month in Stabio and $1,906 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 $3,334 in Stabio and $1,271 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 261% 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 $1,271, than in Stabio at $3,334. 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.