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