😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,509 in Biasca versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,148 in Biasca versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,787 in Biasca versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Biasca is roughly 178% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Biasca is 164% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.86CHF 17.71
$11.72MX$203
86.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8CHF 49.22
$41.89MX$726
45.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.16CHF 9.85
$10.51MX$182
15.70%
Cappuccino
$4.42CHF 3.58
$3.59MX$62.1
23.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21CHF 5.03
$1.51MX$26.13
311.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48CHF 4.44
$0.92MX$15.86
495.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.46CHF 8.47
$2.96MX$51.2
253.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.41CHF 6.00
$4.41MX$76.4
68.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29CHF 1.85
$1.40MX$24.19
63.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.97CHF 3.22
$1.88MX$32.65
111.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.23CHF 4.24
$1.56MX$27.01
235.26%
Eggs
$8.04CHF 6.52
$2.61MX$45.20
208.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.69CHF 23.25
$8.32MX$144
244.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.37CHF 28.66
$8.35MX$145
323.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.57CHF 35.30
$10.86MX$188
301.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.81CHF 3.09
$2.71MX$47.00
40.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10CHF 1.70
$1.51MX$26.08
39.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84CHF 2.30
$1.87MX$32.46
51.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.13CHF 5.78
$2.19MX$37.94
225.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.33CHF 1.89
$1.86MX$32.18
25.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CHF 2.03
$2.23MX$38.64
12.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CHF 2.14
$1.07MX$18.51
146.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60CHF 1.30
$1.09MX$18.82
46.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.25CHF 8.30
$4.19MX$72.5
144.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.13CHF 14.69
$10.43MX$181
73.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.05CHF 3.28
$1.66MX$28.72
143.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29CHF 3.48
$2.61MX$45.26
64.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.89CHF 3.15
$0.54MX$9.39
620.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHF 81.1
$26.16MX$453
282.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.73CHF 7.08
$3.08MX$53.3
183.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.72CHF 4.63
$2.40MX$41.66
138.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$88.1CHF 71.4
$3.13MX$54.2
2713.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15CHF 1.74
$1.31MX$22.72
64.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4KCHF 32.7K
$29.8KMX$516.4K
35.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5KCHF 33.7K
$23.3KMX$404.1K
78.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290CHF 235
$81.3MX$1,408
256.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.1CHF 55.2
$22.56MX$391
201.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6CHF 47.47
$30.05MX$521
94.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.0CHF 70.5
$52.9MX$917
64.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.49CHF 32.81
$18.39MX$319
120.17%
Cinema Ticket
$23.57CHF 19.10
$4.92MX$85.2
379.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,980CHF 3,225
$201MX$3,479
1881.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$41.4KCHF 33.6K
$5,175MX$89.7K
700.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107CHF 86.9
$35.92MX$622
198.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3CHF 43.18
$40.13MX$695
32.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$155CHF 125
$79.7MX$1,381
94.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187CHF 151
$86.5MX$1,498
115.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,702CHF 1,380
$978MX$16.9K
74.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,476CHF 1,196
$470MX$8,152
213.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,778CHF 2,251
$1,651MX$28.6K
68.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,452CHF 1,987
$1,203MX$20.9K
103.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.2KCHF 13.2K
$3,953MX$68.5K
310.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.2KCHF 10.7K
$6,607MX$114.5K
99.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Biasca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,702 in Biasca and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $61.0 in Biasca vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $695 vs $252 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 178% in total monthly costs ($3,509 vs $1,260 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 $5,263 in Biasca and $1,890 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: $1,702 in Biasca versus $978 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 $3,509 per month in Biasca versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 178% 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 283% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,509 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 178% less than in Biasca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.