Cost of Living Comparison Between Berwyn, IL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Berwyn, IL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,562 in Berwyn, IL versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,732 in Berwyn, IL versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,901 in Berwyn, IL versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Berwyn, IL is roughly 98% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Berwyn, IL is 86% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.80 $19.80
$11.71 MX$198
69.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 $69.7
$46.59 MX$786
49.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.92 $9.92
$11.65 MX$197
-14.85%
Cappuccino
$4.92 $4.92
$4.09 MX$69.1
20.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.37 MX$23.20
99.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.83 MX$14.07
144.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 $6.16
$3.35 MX$56.6
83.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.41 $7.41
$6.91 MX$117
7.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.73 MX$29.15
-49.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.26 MX$38.15
41.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.08 $5.08
$1.77 MX$29.86
187.01%
Eggs
$4.53 $4.53
$2.73 MX$46.12
65.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 $10.18
$9.18 MX$155
10.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.53 $13.53
$8.92 MX$151
51.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.89 $16.89
$12.60 MX$213
34.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.10 $5.10
$3.02 MX$51.0
68.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.57 MX$26.51
-5.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.13 MX$35.88
95.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$2.26 MX$38.22
121.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.00 MX$33.82
24.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.06 MX$34.85
25.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.18 MX$19.91
86.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.20 MX$20.32
93.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.52 $10.52
$4.63 MX$78.2
127.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$10.69 MX$180
40.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.62 MX$27.33
25.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.88 MX$48.63
19.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.57 MX$9.68
271.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.83 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$5.45 MX$91.9
-48.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$3.70 MX$62.5
-62.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.09 $21.09
$5.98 MX$101
252.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.55 MX$26.22
-20.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$22.3K MX$376.8K
58.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$25.9K MX$438.0K
-3.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$89.1 MX$1,504
112.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$25.04 MX$423
175.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.2 $62.2
$31.50 MX$532
97.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.27 $46.27
$67.8 MX$1,144
-31.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.15 $14.15
$5.05 MX$85.2
180.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,558 $1,558
$225 MX$3,797
592.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.2K $24.2K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
474.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 $54.8
$47.44 MX$801
15.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98 $43.98
$44.98 MX$759
-2.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.0 $95.0
$82.0 MX$1,384
15.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$92.1 MX$1,555
27.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 $1,629
$1,069 MX$18.0K
52.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 $1,331
$405 MX$6,842
228.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,604 $2,604
$1,935 MX$32.7K
34.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,142 $2,142
$1,301 MX$22.0K
64.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,012 $3,012
$3,995 MX$67.4K
-24.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,041 $2,041
$6,626 MX$111.8K
-69.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Berwyn, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,629 in Berwyn, IL and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $70.0 in Berwyn, IL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $277 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
Berwyn, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Berwyn, IL?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,844 in Berwyn, IL and $1,940 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.
What is the rent difference between Berwyn, IL and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,629 in Berwyn, IL versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,558 in Berwyn, IL versus $225 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Berwyn, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $70.0 in Berwyn, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Berwyn, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,562 in Berwyn, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Berwyn, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Berwyn, IL or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berwyn, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Berwyn, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Berwyn, IL 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Berwyn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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