😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,537 in Biasca versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,163 in Biasca versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,789 in Biasca versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Biasca is roughly 175% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biasca is 164% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.39CHF 17.71
$11.94MX$209
87.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.2CHF 49.21
$42.75MX$748
45.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.49CHF 9.88
$10.59MX$185
17.94%
Cappuccino
$4.23CHF 3.35
$3.62MX$63.4
16.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07CHF 4.80
$1.47MX$25.69
312.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.39CHF 4.27
$0.94MX$16.51
473.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.57CHF 8.36
$3.09MX$54.1
242.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35CHF 5.81
$4.46MX$78.0
64.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28CHF 1.80
$1.43MX$24.94
59.44%
White Bread(500g)
$4.02CHF 3.18
$1.88MX$32.97
113.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.26CHF 4.16
$1.63MX$28.50
222.70%
Eggs
$7.62CHF 6.03
$2.64MX$46.26
188.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.76CHF 22.75
$8.21MX$144
250.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$36.37CHF 28.77
$8.29MX$145
338.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.18CHF 34.95
$11.10MX$194
298.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82CHF 3.02
$2.65MX$46.40
44.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09CHF 1.65
$1.50MX$26.26
39.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86CHF 2.26
$1.99MX$34.79
43.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.33CHF 5.80
$2.08MX$36.33
252.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22CHF 1.76
$1.79MX$31.29
24.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44CHF 1.93
$2.18MX$38.09
11.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58CHF 2.04
$1.08MX$18.84
138.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67CHF 1.32
$1.04MX$18.15
60.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.25CHF 8.11
$3.97MX$69.5
158.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.90CHF 14.95
$10.20MX$179
85.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.13CHF 3.26
$1.73MX$30.22
138.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26CHF 3.37
$2.50MX$43.71
70.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.81CHF 3.01
$0.52MX$9.07
632.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.0CHF 78.3
$26.97MX$472
266.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.85CHF 7.00
$3.14MX$55.0
181.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.41CHF 4.28
$2.40MX$42.04
125.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.6CHF 70.1
$3.09MX$54.0
2766.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23CHF 1.77
$1.27MX$22.28
75.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.0KCHF 32.4K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
32.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KCHF 33.6K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
82.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$293CHF 232
$82.0MX$1,435
257.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.4CHF 54.9
$22.45MX$393
208.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3CHF 46.11
$29.66MX$519
96.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.1CHF 68.9
$51.9MX$908
67.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$23.48CHF 18.57
$4.97MX$87.0
372.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,980CHF 3,148
$198MX$3,462
1912.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$40.7KCHF 32.2K
$5,273MX$92.3K
672.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109CHF 86.2
$36.34MX$636
199.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0CHF 42.71
$40.05MX$701
34.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$154CHF 122
$79.9MX$1,398
93.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$191CHF 151
$88.9MX$1,555
114.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,686CHF 1,333
$963MX$16.9K
75.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,439CHF 1,139
$465MX$8,133
209.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,861CHF 2,263
$1,596MX$27.9K
79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,454CHF 1,941
$1,209MX$21.2K
103.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.6KCHF 10.7K
$3,942MX$69.0K
244.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,763CHF 7,722
$6,448MX$112.8K
51.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
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 Biasca: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,686 in Biasca and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Biasca vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $704 vs $251 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 Playa del Carmen?
Biasca and Playa del Carmen differ by about 175% in total monthly costs ($3,537 vs $1,287 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 $5,306 in Biasca and $1,930 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 Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,686 in Biasca versus $963 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 $3,537 per month in Biasca versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 175% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Biasca and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 267% 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,537 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 175% less than in Biasca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.