😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,552 in Bradley, IL versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,634 in Bradley, IL versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,715 in Bradley, IL versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bradley, IL is roughly 97% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bradley, IL is 86% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.08$15.08
$11.71MX$198
28.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.6$62.6
$46.59MX$786
34.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03$8.03
$11.65MX$197
-31.07%
Cappuccino
$5.04$5.04
$4.09MX$69.1
23.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$1.37MX$23.20
62.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09$1.09
$0.83MX$14.07
31.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.06$5.06
$3.35MX$56.6
51.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03$5.03
$6.91MX$117
-27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$1.73MX$29.15
-45.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27$2.27
$2.26MX$38.15
0.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.37$5.37
$1.77MX$29.86
203.39%
Eggs
$3.94$3.94
$2.73MX$46.12
44.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.04$12.04
$9.18MX$155
31.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.19$15.19
$8.92MX$151
70.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.20$18.20
$12.60MX$213
44.44%
Apples(1kg)
$4.97$4.97
$3.02MX$51.0
64.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70$2.70
$1.57MX$26.51
71.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.35$5.35
$2.13MX$35.88
151.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$2.26MX$38.22
113.72%
Potato(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$2.00MX$33.82
75.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$2.06MX$34.85
40.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99$1.99
$1.18MX$19.91
68.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.02$3.02
$1.20MX$20.32
151.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.80$11.80
$4.63MX$78.2
154.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78$12.78
$10.69MX$180
19.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$1.62MX$27.33
32.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39$4.39
$2.88MX$48.63
52.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.57MX$9.68
254.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$503
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.48$4.48
$5.45MX$91.9
-17.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.95$2.95
$3.70MX$62.5
-20.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.60$17.60
$5.98MX$101
194.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06$1.06
$1.55MX$26.22
-31.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K$36.9K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
65.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K$27.0K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
4.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228$228
$89.1MX$1,504
155.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4$52.4
$25.04MX$423
109.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6$65.6
$31.50MX$532
108.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.44$42.44
$67.8MX$1,144
-37.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76$14.76
$5.05MX$85.2
192.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,446$1,446
$225MX$3,797
542.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K$12.9K
$4,222MX$71.3K
204.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5$66.5
$47.44MX$801
40.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.84$32.84
$44.98MX$759
-26.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.4$64.4
$82.0MX$1,384
-21.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100$100
$92.1MX$1,555
8.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$1,069MX$18.0K
51.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292$1,292
$405MX$6,842
218.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,540$2,540
$1,935MX$32.7K
31.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,175$2,175
$1,301MX$22.0K
67.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,751$2,751
$3,995MX$67.4K
-31.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,429$2,429
$6,626MX$111.8K
-63.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bradley, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
11.45
-44.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bradley, IL: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Bradley, IL and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Bradley, IL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 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
Bradley, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bradley, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
Bradley, IL and Playa del Carmen differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($2,552 vs $1,293 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 Bradley, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,828 in Bradley, 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Bradley, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,619 in Bradley, IL versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bradley, IL and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,446 in Bradley, IL versus $225 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $63.0 in Bradley, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,552 in Bradley, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bradley, IL. 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 Bradley, IL 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.
Where should expats move: Bradley, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Bradley, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Bradley, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared