Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Giubiasco and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $3,513 in Giubiasco, rent and utilities included – about $27,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Giubiasco, Switzerland
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Giubiasco
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,513
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Giubiasco and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Giubiasco and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,513 per month in Giubiasco vs $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Giubiasco $3,513
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

A couple spends around $5,442 per month in Giubiasco vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Giubiasco $5,442
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $7,370 per month in Giubiasco vs $2,962 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Giubiasco $7,370
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Giubiasco costs about 192% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Giubiasco sits 160% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$34.96 CHF 28.54
$10.67 MX$199
227.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$181 CHF 148
$43.80 MX$815
313.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.31 CHF 15.76
$11.79 MX$219
63.78%
Cappuccino
$4.84 CHF 3.95
$3.79 MX$70.5
27.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 CHF 4.52
$1.30 MX$24.14
326.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 CHF 3.48
$0.83 MX$15.51
414.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.56 CHF 7.80
$3.15 MX$58.6
203.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 CHF 5.83
$4.93 MX$91.8
44.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.27 CHF 1.85
$1.41 MX$26.22
60.99%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 CHF 3.04
$2.20 MX$40.86
69.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.05 CHF 3.30
$1.47 MX$27.40
175.51%
Eggs
$7.17 CHF 5.86
$2.50 MX$46.46
186.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.32 CHF 21.49
$7.29 MX$136
261.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.70 CHF 23.44
$7.95 MX$148
261.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$39.46 CHF 32.22
$12.86 MX$239
206.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 CHF 2.74
$2.90 MX$53.9
15.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 CHF 1.51
$1.38 MX$25.74
34.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.75 CHF 2.24
$2.49 MX$46.35
10.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.48 CHF 5.29
$2.03 MX$37.77
219.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 CHF 1.52
$2.02 MX$37.68
-7.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 CHF 1.73
$1.90 MX$35.42
11.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 CHF 1.94
$1.14 MX$21.30
108.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 CHF 1.08
$1.24 MX$23.05
7.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05 CHF 9.02
$4.27 MX$79.5
158.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.78 CHF 12.07
$9.81 MX$183
50.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 CHF 2.66
$1.59 MX$29.51
105.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 CHF 3.24
$2.75 MX$51.1
44.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.34 CHF 3.54
$0.51 MX$9.58
750.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.6 CHF 81.3
$27.39 MX$510
263.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 CHF 6.07
$4.76 MX$88.6
56.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.42 CHF 4.42
$3.25 MX$60.5
66.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.67 CHF 29.12
$5.39 MX$100
561.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 CHF 1.91
$1.53 MX$28.44
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K CHF 31.9K
$21.2K MX$394.8K
84.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K CHF 32.2K
$23.3K MX$432.9K
69.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$305 CHF 249
$83.5 MX$1,554
265.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.85 CHF 20.29
$23.19 MX$431
7.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.44 CHF 39.55
$27.61 MX$514
75.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$86.1 CHF 70.3
$56.4 MX$1,050
52.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.33 CHF 37.01
$28.19 MX$525
60.80%
Cinema Ticket
$20.72 CHF 16.91
$5.00 MX$93.1
314.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,192 CHF 2,606
$207 MX$3,854
1441.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.5K CHF 29.0K
$5,231 MX$97.3K
579.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 CHF 89.6
$43.45 MX$809
152.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.62 CHF 38.88
$42.54 MX$792
11.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$152 CHF 124
$72.8 MX$1,354
109.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 CHF 139
$88.4 MX$1,645
92.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,811 CHF 1,479
$995 MX$18.5K
82.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 CHF 1,254
$382 MX$7,116
301.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,884 CHF 2,355
$1,674 MX$31.2K
72.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,535 CHF 2,070
$1,081 MX$20.1K
134.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.0K CHF 12.2K
$3,909 MX$72.7K
283.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K CHF 9,173
$6,138 MX$114.2K
83.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Giubiasco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$832 MX$15.5K
-
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 Giubiasco: November 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Giubiasco
$1.5K
Playa del Carmen
$382 75.1% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Giubiasco
$606
Playa del Carmen
$257 57.5% $349
Eating Out
Giubiasco
$497
Playa del Carmen
$200 59.7% $297
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giubiasco
$379
Playa del Carmen
$134 64.5% $244
Clothing & Footwear
Giubiasco
$216
Playa del Carmen
$111 48.5% $105
Getting Around
Giubiasco
$151
Playa del Carmen
$50 66.7% $101
Sport & Entertainment
Giubiasco
$128
Playa del Carmen
$66 47.9% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,811 in Giubiasco versus $995 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 $181 in Giubiasco versus $44 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $606 vs $257 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Giubiasco
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
08:40 8:40 AM
02:40 2:40 AM
6 h behind Giubiasco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,800
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.816 CHF (1 CHF = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 0.917 CHF (1 CHF = 1.09 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.91 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Giubiasco Playa del Carmen 8,820 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Giubiasco
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Giubiasco vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Giubiasco?
Yes – Giubiasco is pricier by about 192%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,269 per month in Giubiasco and $1,804 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $995 there versus $1,811 in Giubiasco.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $3,192 per month in Giubiasco and $207 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Giubiasco and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 135% more in Giubiasco, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Giubiasco or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Giubiasco at $3,513. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Giubiasco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Giubiasco 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Playa del Carmen is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 66% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Giubiasco vs other spots: cost of living compared

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