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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,525 per month in Thun vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,293 per month in Thun vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,060 per month in Thun vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Thun costs about 172% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Thun sits 163% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.21 CHF 22.26
$11.73 MX$203
140.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124 CHF 97.7
$41.62 MX$719
197.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.30 CHF 13.66
$10.64 MX$184
62.59%
Cappuccino
$5.89 CHF 4.65
$3.52 MX$60.8
67.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 CHF 3.75
$1.51 MX$26.09
214.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83 CHF 3.81
$0.97 MX$16.82
397.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.48 CHF 6.69
$2.95 MX$51.0
187.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 CHF 6.05
$4.45 MX$77.0
72.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 CHF 1.75
$1.38 MX$23.90
60.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 CHF 2.69
$1.89 MX$32.69
79.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.13 CHF 3.26
$1.64 MX$28.29
151.83%
Eggs
$7.32 CHF 5.78
$2.51 MX$43.30
191.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.79 CHF 21.15
$8.34 MX$144
221.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.73 CHF 22.68
$8.34 MX$144
244.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.10 CHF 32.44
$10.73 MX$185
283.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 CHF 2.81
$2.60 MX$45.00
36.92%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 CHF 1.70
$1.46 MX$25.18
47.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 CHF 2.20
$1.90 MX$32.84
46.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.33 CHF 4.99
$2.08 MX$35.88
204.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 CHF 1.76
$1.78 MX$30.68
25.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 CHF 1.71
$2.19 MX$37.76
-1.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.54 CHF 2.01
$1.04 MX$17.97
144.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CHF 0.87
$1.08 MX$18.60
2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.10 CHF 8.76
$4.08 MX$70.5
172.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.65 CHF 9.98
$10.32 MX$178
22.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 CHF 1.50
$1.71 MX$29.59
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 CHF 1.80
$2.58 MX$44.50
-11.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.83 CHF 3.02
$0.51 MX$8.81
650.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$100.0 CHF 78.9
$26.46 MX$457
277.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 CHF 6.23
$3.26 MX$56.4
142.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.30 CHF 2.61
$2.49 MX$43.05
32.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$66.2 CHF 52.3
$3.25 MX$56.1
1937.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.24 CHF 1.77
$1.31 MX$22.59
70.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K CHF 31.8K
$30.3K MX$523.2K
33.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8K CHF 32.2K
$23.4K MX$404.9K
74.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$366 CHF 289
$82.9 MX$1,432
341.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.6 CHF 47.00
$22.22 MX$384
168.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 CHF 46.75
$29.34 MX$507
101.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.5 CHF 68.3
$51.6 MX$892
67.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$24.60 CHF 19.42
$5.07 MX$87.5
385.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,030 CHF 2,391
$201 MX$3,470
1408.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.9K CHF 26.7K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
549.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$153 CHF 120
$36.92 MX$638
313.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.8 CHF 55.1
$39.79 MX$688
75.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$176 CHF 139
$78.5 MX$1,356
124.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186 CHF 147
$87.1 MX$1,505
113.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,687 CHF 1,331
$973 MX$16.8K
73.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,473 CHF 1,162
$468 MX$8,082
214.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,870 CHF 2,265
$1,641 MX$28.4K
74.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,499 CHF 1,972
$1,221 MX$21.1K
104.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,647 CHF 6,035
$6,498 MX$112.3K
17.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,206 CHF 4,898
$664 MX$11.5K
834.79%
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 Thun: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,687 in Thun versus $973 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.

Salaries run about 835% higher in Thun, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Thun versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $597 vs $249 – 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
Thun vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Thun?
Yes – Thun is pricier by about 172%, 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 $5,288 per month in Thun and $1,945 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 Thun vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,525 in Thun and $1,297 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 Thun or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Thun at $3,525. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Thun 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 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, Thun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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