Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,449 in Berwyn, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Berwyn, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,449
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Berwyn, IL 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 Berwyn, IL and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,449 in Berwyn, IL versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Berwyn, IL $2,449
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,655 in Berwyn, IL versus $2,102 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Berwyn, IL $3,655
  • Playa del Carmen $2,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,860 in Berwyn, IL versus $3,000 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Berwyn, IL $4,860
  • Playa del Carmen $3,000

Living in Berwyn, IL is roughly 103% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Berwyn, IL is 81% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$10.86 MX$201
81.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$44.21 MX$817
69.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 $9.83
$11.76 MX$217
-16.41%
Cappuccino
$5.04 $5.04
$3.68 MX$68.0
36.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.34 MX$24.79
92.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.82 MX$15.24
140.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$3.06 MX$56.6
99.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 $7.09
$4.94 MX$91.2
43.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.47 MX$27.17
-43.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$2.22 MX$40.95
62.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$1.48 MX$27.32
258.11%
Eggs
$4.69 $4.69
$2.49 MX$45.99
88.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.01 $10.01
$7.52 MX$139
33.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.92 $13.92
$7.96 MX$147
74.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 $16.75
$12.57 MX$232
33.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.78 MX$51.3
81.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.43 MX$26.37
4.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.62 MX$48.37
49.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$2.14 MX$39.49
133.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.02 MX$37.38
28.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.99 MX$36.74
29.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.14 MX$21.01
87.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.20 MX$22.18
99.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 $10.95
$4.26 MX$78.7
157.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$10.02 MX$185
51.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.54 MX$28.41
27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.66 MX$49.17
31.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.53 MX$9.73
232.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.51 MX$508
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 $2.85
$4.90 MX$90.6
-41.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$3.43 MX$63.5
-60.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.24 $21.24
$5.38 MX$99.4
294.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.45 MX$26.76
-14.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K $33.9K
$21.2K MX$391.0K
60.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$23.0K MX$425.3K
12.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$85.4 MX$1,577
128.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$23.46 MX$434
192.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$28.43 MX$525
115.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.38 $43.38
$62.2 MX$1,149
-30.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.68 MX$530
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.97 $13.97
$5.10 MX$94.3
173.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,693 $1,693
$201 MX$3,715
741.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$3,947 MX$72.9K
515.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 $54.4
$44.39 MX$820
22.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$41.35 MX$764
-2.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 $94.9
$72.7 MX$1,344
30.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$89.6 MX$1,656
28.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 $1,401
$979 MX$18.1K
43.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,183 $1,183
$373 MX$6,887
217.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,623 $2,623
$1,681 MX$31.1K
56.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,052 $2,052
$1,095 MX$20.2K
87.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,341 $2,341
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-40.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,156 $2,156
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-64.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berwyn, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$738 MX$13.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
11.45
-41.92%

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

Last update for Berwyn, IL: October 18, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Berwyn, IL
$1.2K
Playa del Carmen
$373 68.5% $810
Groceries & Markets
Berwyn, IL
$406
Playa del Carmen
$258 36.4% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berwyn, IL
$325
Playa del Carmen
$137 57.8% $188
Eating Out
Berwyn, IL
$310
Playa del Carmen
$200 35.4% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Berwyn, IL
$137
Playa del Carmen
$112 18.6% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Berwyn, IL
$71
Playa del Carmen
$72 1.5% $1.1
Getting Around
Berwyn, IL
$17 *
Playa del Carmen
$52 209% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,401 in Berwyn, IL and $979 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Berwyn, IL vs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $258 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Berwyn, IL
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
22:57 10:57 PM
22:57 10:57 PM
Same time as Berwyn, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,250
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Berwyn, IL Playa del Carmen 2,360 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Berwyn, IL
  • 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
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, eating out, and clothing. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,674 in Berwyn, IL and $1,806 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: $1,401 in Berwyn, IL versus $979 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 $1,693 in Berwyn, IL versus $201 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 $44.00 versus $75.0 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 $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,449 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 103% less than in Berwyn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Berwyn, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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