Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,611 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,793 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,975 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 107% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

East Chicago, IN sits 95% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 $18.82

$11.67 MX$202

61.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$41.88 MX$726

78.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$10.40 MX$180

6.63%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$3.61 MX$62.6

42.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.47 MX$25.45

68.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.91 MX$15.80

123.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$3.03 MX$52.6

97.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$4.47 MX$77.4

53.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.38 MX$23.83

-26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.84 MX$31.93

88.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.61 MX$27.82

172.05%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$2.57 MX$44.52

61.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$8.49 MX$147

46.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.69 $11.69

$8.49 MX$147

37.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 $15.30

$10.99 MX$190

39.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$2.73 MX$47.25

83.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.50 MX$25.92

4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.96 MX$33.93

120.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.12 MX$36.70

120.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.86 MX$32.30

53.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.17 MX$37.67

29.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.07 MX$18.59

88.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.05 MX$18.18

106.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 $9.54

$4.19 MX$72.6

127.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.75 $16.75

$10.28 MX$178

62.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.67 MX$28.87

7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.49 MX$43.12

36.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.54 MX$9.37

279.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.10 MX$53.8

10.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.46 MX$42.66

-32.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$3.24 MX$56.1

812.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.26 MX$21.83

-31.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-1.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.1K $25.1K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

7.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$84.0 MX$1,456

126.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$22.21 MX$385

139.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$29.65 MX$514

131.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$52.6 MX$912

-19.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 $13.54

$4.95 MX$85.7

173.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,287 $1,287

$198 MX$3,438

548.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

343.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$35.95 MX$623

41.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.40 $40.40

$40.06 MX$694

0.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$78.8 MX$1,365

9.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$86.5 MX$1,499

28.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$977 MX$16.9K

63.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$471 MX$8,158

193.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,595 MX$27.6K

66.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$1,215 MX$21.1K

83.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 $2,662

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-33.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,049 $2,049

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-68.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 $4,239

$714 MX$12.4K

493.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

11.42

-42.99%

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

Last update for East Chicago, IN: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in East Chicago, IN versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 494% higher in East Chicago, IN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in East Chicago, IN versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $252 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

East Chicago, IN vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – East Chicago, IN is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,916 per month in East Chicago, IN and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,611 in East Chicago, IN and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,287 per month in East Chicago, IN and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in East Chicago, IN at $2,611. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in East Chicago, IN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, East Chicago, IN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.