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 54.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 139.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 109.1% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 103.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$11.99 MX$227
73.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$42.47 MX$803
136.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.47 MX$198
14.33%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.6 MX$68.2
54.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.44 MX$27.16
115.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$0.89 MX$16.79
171.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.09 MX$58.5
122.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.58 MX$86.6
84.50%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.38 MX$26.04
-24.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.85 MX$34.9
124.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$1.57 MX$29.68
251.59%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.55 MX$48.3
82.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.61 MX$163
66.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.54 MX$161
74.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.98 MX$208
76.14%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.72 MX$51.4
90.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.51 MX$28.57
13.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.88 MX$35.63
134.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.19 MX$41.42
105.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.87 MX$35.3
35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.19 MX$41.37
25.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.07 MX$20.23
127.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.09 MX$20.64
147.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$3.96 MX$74.9
283.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$8.86 MX$167
85.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 MX$32.53
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.61 MX$49.37
41.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.52 MX$9.74
386.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$26.59 MX$503
178.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.24 MX$61.2
3.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.38 MX$44.94
-40.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$3.11 MX$58.7
717.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.31 MX$24.85
-17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
6.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K MX$453.6K
9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$84.2 MX$1,592
123.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$22.14 MX$419
187.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$30.14 MX$570
116.32%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$52 MX$983
47.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$18.72 MX$354
-30.40%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$5.07 MX$95.9
194.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$200 MX$3,787
929.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
634.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$35.74 MX$676
79.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.8 MX$753
31.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79 MX$1,493
20.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$88.4 MX$1,671
63.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$965 MX$18.3K
146.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$474 MX$8,968
234.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,653 MX$31.2K
188.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,202 MX$22.7K
134.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,081 MX$58.3K
16.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-66.93%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$792 MX$15K
566.23%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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