😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,818 in Brescia versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,781 in Brescia versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,744 in Brescia versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Brescia is roughly 41% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brescia is 36% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.81€19.53
$11.94MX$209
91.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.4€79.9
$42.75MX$748
118.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46€9.81
$10.59MX$185
8.22%
Cappuccino
$1.99€1.70
$3.62MX$63.4
-45.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24€2.77
$1.47MX$25.69
120.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.22
$0.94MX$16.51
52.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.01
$3.09MX$54.1
89.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22€5.32
$4.46MX$78.0
39.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.15
$1.43MX$24.94
-5.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39€2.05
$1.88MX$32.97
27.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71€2.32
$1.63MX$28.50
66.26%
Eggs
$4.39€3.76
$2.64MX$46.26
66.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.59€13.34
$8.21MX$144
89.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.73€10.90
$8.29MX$145
53.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.81€18.67
$11.10MX$194
96.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72€2.33
$2.65MX$46.40
2.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46€2.10
$1.50MX$26.26
64.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69€2.30
$1.99MX$34.79
35.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.00€2.56
$2.08MX$36.33
44.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23€1.91
$1.79MX$31.29
24.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89€1.62
$2.18MX$38.09
-13.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57€1.34
$1.08MX$18.84
45.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46€0.39
$1.04MX$18.15
-55.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.82
$3.97MX$69.5
71.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.16€7.84
$10.20MX$179
-10.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.67
$1.73MX$30.22
12.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58€2.21
$2.50MX$43.71
3.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03€1.73
$0.52MX$9.07
290.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.00€39.37
$26.97MX$472
70.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.52€7.30
$3.14MX$55.0
171.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00€0.85
$2.40MX$42.04
-58.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.54€9.88
$3.09MX$54.0
273.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.74
$1.27MX$22.28
60.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K€27.3K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
3.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€33.7K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
69.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245€210
$82.0MX$1,435
198.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.85€12.71
$22.45MX$393
-33.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.62€27.92
$29.66MX$519
9.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.89€39.28
$51.9MX$908
-11.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.01€17.13
$18.67MX$327
7.18%
Cinema Ticket
$12.02€10.29
$4.97MX$87.0
141.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$748€640
$198MX$3,462
278.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8K€16.1K
$5,273MX$92.3K
256.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6€68.2
$36.34MX$636
119.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.86€20.42
$40.05MX$701
-40.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.5€69.7
$79.9MX$1,398
1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109€93.0
$88.9MX$1,555
22.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$771€660
$963MX$16.9K
-20.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619€530
$465MX$8,133
33.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,130€967
$1,596MX$27.9K
-29.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$932€798
$1,209MX$21.2K
-22.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,556€3,044
$3,942MX$69.0K
-9.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,271€1,944
$6,448MX$112.8K
-64.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brescia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,060€1,764
$720MX$12.6K
186.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
11.42
-62.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brescia: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Brescia and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brescia pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in Brescia vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 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
Brescia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brescia or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Brescia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brescia or Playa del Carmen?
Brescia pays 186% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Brescia vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $771 in Brescia versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Brescia vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $93.0 in Brescia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Brescia compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,818 per month in Brescia versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Brescia or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,818 in Brescia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Brescia. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brescia or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Brescia compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Brescia 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Brescia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Brescia vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado