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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 75.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 143.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 77% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 106.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$11.85 MX$208
69.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$42.16 MX$742
141.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.75 MX$189
11.81%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$3.47 MX$61.1
61.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.45 MX$25.56
107.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.90 MX$15.88
161.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$3.05 MX$53.7
128.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.42 MX$77.7
91.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.37 MX$24.09
-20.44%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$1.87 MX$32.93
120.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$1.54 MX$27.15
261.69%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$2.50 MX$44.03
80.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$8.61 MX$151
67.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$8.63 MX$152
74.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$11.02 MX$194
72.23%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$2.75 MX$48.36
89.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.43 MX$25.12
24.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.87 MX$32.94
132.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.17 MX$38.13
108.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.88 MX$33.12
35.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.25 MX$39.51
20.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.07 MX$18.78
132.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.07 MX$18.88
145.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$4.15 MX$73.1
264.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$10.34 MX$182
44.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.68 MX$29.54
47.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.48 MX$43.69
47.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.55 MX$9.76
367.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$26.53 MX$467
179.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.22 MX$56.6
2.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.48 MX$43.65
-44.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$3.11 MX$54.7
702.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.26 MX$22.09
-15.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$30.7K MX$539.3K
2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.0K MX$422.8K
9.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$82.5 MX$1,451
126.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$22.29 MX$392
182.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$30.02 MX$528
119.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$51.4 MX$905
46.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$18.29 MX$322
-29.20%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$4.98 MX$87.7
203.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$200 MX$3,518
933.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$5,304 MX$93.3K
630.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$35.71 MX$628
79.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$39.56 MX$696
28.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$80.6 MX$1,417
20.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$88.3 MX$1,554
62.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$969 MX$17.1K
141.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$482 MX$8,482
234.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,595 MX$28.1K
198.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,184 MX$20.8K
133.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$4,050 MX$71.2K
-7.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$6,522 MX$114.7K
-59.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$756 MX$13.3K
561.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
11.42
-42.21%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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