😐A single person spends $3,489 per month in Turgi vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,420 per month in Turgi vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,352 per month in Turgi vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Turgi costs about 177% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Turgi sits 162% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$37.33CHF 30.36
$11.72MX$204
218.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144CHF 117
$41.89MX$731
243.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.01CHF 13.02
$10.51MX$183
52.33%
Cappuccino
$6.60CHF 5.37
$3.59MX$62.5
83.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36CHF 4.36
$1.51MX$26.31
254.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28CHF 3.48
$0.92MX$15.96
365.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.44CHF 6.87
$2.96MX$51.6
185.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58CHF 6.17
$4.41MX$76.9
71.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.82
$1.40MX$24.35
59.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43CHF 2.79
$1.88MX$32.87
82.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37CHF 1.93
$1.56MX$27.19
51.92%
Eggs
$5.53CHF 4.50
$2.61MX$45.50
111.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$30.76CHF 25.02
$8.32MX$145
269.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$34.75CHF 28.26
$8.35MX$146
316.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.1CHF 41.55
$10.86MX$189
370.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29CHF 1.86
$2.71MX$47.31
-15.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24CHF 1.82
$1.51MX$26.25
48.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85CHF 2.32
$1.87MX$32.67
52.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32CHF 1.89
$2.19MX$38.19
5.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40CHF 1.95
$1.86MX$32.40
29.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32CHF 1.89
$2.23MX$38.90
4.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CHF 2.12
$1.07MX$18.63
143.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23CHF 1.00
$1.09MX$18.94
12.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51CHF 3.67
$4.19MX$73.0
7.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.02CHF 5.71
$10.43MX$182
-32.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33CHF 1.90
$1.66MX$28.91
40.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37CHF 1.93
$2.61MX$45.56
-9.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.02CHF 3.27
$0.54MX$9.45
644.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1CHF 78.9
$26.16MX$456
270.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.00CHF 6.50
$3.08MX$53.7
159.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.39CHF 3.57
$2.40MX$41.94
82.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.8CHF 72.2
$3.13MX$54.5
2735.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.81
$1.31MX$22.87
69.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHF 33.0K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
36.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0KCHF 34.2K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
80.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250CHF 203
$81.3MX$1,418
207.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.4CHF 59.7
$22.56MX$393
225.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4CHF 45.05
$30.05MX$524
84.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.6CHF 72.1
$52.9MX$923
67.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.87CHF 40.56
$18.39MX$321
171.18%
Cinema Ticket
$21.84CHF 17.76
$4.92MX$85.8
343.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,947CHF 2,397
$201MX$3,502
1367.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.1KCHF 35.0K
$5,175MX$90.2K
731.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$139CHF 113
$35.92MX$627
286.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.5CHF 62.2
$40.13MX$700
90.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133CHF 108
$79.7MX$1,390
66.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161CHF 131
$86.5MX$1,508
86.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,700CHF 1,383
$978MX$17.1K
73.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,476CHF 1,201
$470MX$8,206
213.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,787CHF 2,267
$1,651MX$28.8K
68.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,500CHF 2,033
$1,203MX$21.0K
107.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.9KCHF 12.1K
$3,953MX$69.0K
276.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.0KCHF 10.6K
$6,607MX$115.2K
96.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turgi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
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 Turgi: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,700 in Turgi versus $978 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 $144 in Turgi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $623 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
Turgi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Turgi?
Yes – Turgi is pricier by about 177%, 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 $5,233 per month in Turgi and $1,890 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 Turgi and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,489 in Turgi and $1,260 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 271% 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 Turgi or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Turgi at $3,489. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turgi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Turgi 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, Turgi 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, Turgi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.