😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,416 in Biasca versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,075 in Biasca versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,733 in Biasca versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Biasca is roughly 170% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biasca is 150% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47CHF 18.46
$11.60MX$200
93.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.2CHF 51.2
$47.11MX$811
32.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.17CHF 10.00
$11.88MX$205
2.44%
Cappuccino
$4.25CHF 3.49
$3.98MX$68.5
6.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54CHF 5.37
$1.43MX$24.57
357.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27CHF 5.16
$0.82MX$14.20
664.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.86CHF 8.10
$3.19MX$54.9
209.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.87CHF 6.47
$6.79MX$117
15.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20CHF 1.81
$1.68MX$28.85
30.95%
White Bread(500g)
$4.02CHF 3.31
$2.20MX$37.83
82.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.24CHF 3.48
$1.71MX$29.41
147.95%
Eggs
$8.06CHF 6.62
$2.74MX$47.20
194.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.00CHF 23.01
$9.58MX$165
192.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$32.27CHF 26.52
$9.01MX$155
258.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.05CHF 35.38
$12.81MX$221
236.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65CHF 3.00
$2.89MX$49.74
26.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07CHF 1.70
$1.50MX$25.78
38.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87CHF 2.36
$2.15MX$36.98
33.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.38CHF 4.42
$2.26MX$38.91
138.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08CHF 1.71
$1.98MX$34.10
5.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18CHF 1.79
$1.99MX$34.26
9.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46CHF 2.02
$1.23MX$21.25
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36CHF 1.11
$1.20MX$20.60
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28CHF 8.45
$4.55MX$78.3
125.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.82CHF 15.46
$10.37MX$179
81.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.07CHF 2.52
$1.62MX$27.88
89.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13CHF 3.39
$2.88MX$49.60
43.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.43CHF 3.64
$0.60MX$10.34
638.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101CHF 82.7
$28.80MX$496
249.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.89CHF 7.30
$5.39MX$92.8
64.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$6.15CHF 5.06
$3.73MX$64.2
64.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$80.6CHF 66.2
$5.77MX$99.3
1296.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21CHF 1.82
$1.54MX$26.45
43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.3KCHF 35.6K
$22.5KMX$388.3K
92.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KCHF 32.6K
$26.1KMX$448.7K
52.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231CHF 190
$91.4MX$1,573
152.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.24CHF 33.89
$25.20MX$434
63.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.2CHF 51.9
$31.24MX$538
102.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$91.7CHF 75.4
$67.2MX$1,157
36.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.52CHF 38.23
$29.11MX$501
59.81%
Cinema Ticket
$24.51CHF 20.14
$4.86MX$83.7
404.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$4,374CHF 3,594
$224MX$3,851
1855.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.7KCHF 29.3K
$4,229MX$72.8K
743.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$171CHF 140
$47.10MX$811
262.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.9CHF 58.3
$44.29MX$763
60.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$191CHF 157
$80.1MX$1,379
138.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$282CHF 232
$92.7MX$1,596
204.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,748CHF 1,436
$1,063MX$18.3K
64.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,487CHF 1,222
$390MX$6,719
281.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,950CHF 2,424
$2,149MX$37.0K
37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,540CHF 2,088
$1,272MX$21.9K
99.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.7KCHF 13.7K
$4,001MX$68.9K
316.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.2KCHF 10.0K
$6,502MX$112.0K
87.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$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 Biasca: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,748 in Biasca and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Biasca vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $653 vs $276 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Biasca vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Biasca and in Playa del Carmen?
Biasca and Playa del Carmen differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($3,416 vs $1,266 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Biasca compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $5,124 in Biasca and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Biasca and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,748 in Biasca versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Biasca or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $3,416 per month in Biasca versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 170% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Biasca and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 249% less than in Biasca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,416 in Biasca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Biasca. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Biasca and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Biasca or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Biasca and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Biasca or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 170% less than in Biasca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.