Cost of Living Comparison Between Stabio and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Stabio and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$34.98 CHF 28.44
$11.96 MX$203
192.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$173 CHF 141
$47.38 MX$805
265.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.37 CHF 16.56
$11.75 MX$200
73.36%
Cappuccino
$4.55 CHF 3.70
$4.12 MX$70.0
10.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96 CHF 4.04
$1.40 MX$23.77
254.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 CHF 3.32
$0.91 MX$15.50
348.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.64 CHF 7.84
$3.21 MX$54.5
200.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50 CHF 6.09
$7.07 MX$120
6.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.82
$1.68 MX$28.48
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 CHF 3.09
$2.15 MX$36.53
76.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.10 CHF 3.34
$1.77 MX$30.14
131.64%
Eggs
$7.38 CHF 6.00
$2.82 MX$47.82
161.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.03 CHF 21.16
$9.20 MX$156
182.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$29.67 CHF 24.13
$9.23 MX$157
221.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.74 CHF 33.94
$12.64 MX$215
230.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 CHF 2.75
$2.95 MX$50.1
14.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 CHF 1.35
$1.58 MX$26.82
5.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 CHF 2.15
$2.22 MX$37.76
19.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.45 CHF 4.43
$2.36 MX$40.14
130.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CHF 1.55
$1.99 MX$33.85
-4.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 CHF 1.74
$1.98 MX$33.62
8.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 CHF 1.92
$1.24 MX$21.07
90.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CHF 0.95
$1.21 MX$20.58
-3.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.17 CHF 9.08
$4.60 MX$78.2
142.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.71 CHF 10.34
$10.52 MX$179
20.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 CHF 2.29
$1.69 MX$28.74
66.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 CHF 3.22
$2.77 MX$47.13
42.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.36 CHF 3.55
$0.60 MX$10.24
626.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 CHF 88.2
$29.70 MX$505
265.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.91 CHF 6.43
$5.24 MX$89.0
50.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.71 CHF 4.65
$3.65 MX$62.0
56.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.1 CHF 66.0
$5.78 MX$98.3
1303.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 CHF 1.86
$1.54 MX$26.13
48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K CHF 29.0K
$22.8K MX$387.3K
56.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K CHF 32.3K
$25.8K MX$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)
$231 CHF 187
$90.7 MX$1,540
154.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.47 CHF 18.27
$25.19 MX$428
-10.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.95 CHF 40.61
$31.75 MX$539
57.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.6 CHF 68.8
$68.8 MX$1,169
22.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 CHF 40.74
$29.37 MX$499
70.62%
Cinema Ticket
$20.39 CHF 16.58
$4.86 MX$82.6
319.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,257 CHF 1,022
$226 MX$3,834
456.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.6K CHF 28.9K
$4,194 MX$71.2K
748.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$166 CHF 135
$47.38 MX$805
250.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7 CHF 46.95
$43.45 MX$738
32.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$198 CHF 161
$80.2 MX$1,363
146.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 CHF 126
$91.4 MX$1,552
69.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 CHF 1,413
$1,086 MX$18.4K
60.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,538 CHF 1,251
$409 MX$6,942
276.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,583 CHF 2,100
$1,972 MX$33.5K
30.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,476 CHF 2,013
$1,281 MX$21.8K
93.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$17.9K CHF 14.6K
$4,046 MX$68.7K
342.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$12.8K CHF 10.4K
$6,704 MX$113.9K
91.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stabio
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$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.

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