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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,705 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,925 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,146 per month in Edwardsville, IL vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Edwardsville, IL costs about 107% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Edwardsville, IL sits 96% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.23 $17.23

$11.96 MX$202

44.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$47.38 MX$800

60.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.71 $11.71

$11.75 MX$198

-0.34%

Cappuccino

$6.09 $6.09

$4.12 MX$69.6

47.82%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$1.40 MX$23.63

106.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.91 MX$15.40

121.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.21 MX$54.1

114.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$7.07 MX$119

4.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.68 MX$28.31

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.15 MX$36.31

45.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$1.77 MX$29.96

176.84%

Eggs

$3.93 $3.93

$2.82 MX$47.54

39.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$9.20 MX$155

50.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.54 $11.54

$9.23 MX$156

25.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$12.64 MX$213

50.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$2.95 MX$49.83

85.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 MX$26.66

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.22 MX$37.53

102.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$2.36 MX$39.90

101.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 MX$33.65

22.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.98 MX$33.42

36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.24 MX$20.94

52.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.21 MX$20.46

84.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.06 $11.06

$4.60 MX$77.7

140.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.35 $15.35

$10.52 MX$178

45.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.69 MX$28.56

20.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.77 MX$46.84

10.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.60 MX$10.17

235.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$29.70 MX$502

239.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$5.24 MX$88.4

-46.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.65 MX$61.6

-49.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.05 $33.05

$5.78 MX$97.7

471.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.54 MX$25.97

-46.75%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$22.8K MX$385.0K

35.20%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$25.8K MX$435.8K

12.31%

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

$204 $204

$90.7 MX$1,531

125.14%

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

$57.1 $57.1

$25.19 MX$425

126.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$31.75 MX$536

121.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.89 $40.89

$68.8 MX$1,162

-40.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$496

Cinema Ticket

$13.89 $13.89

$4.86 MX$82.1

185.80%

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

$1,422 $1,422

$226 MX$3,811

529.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$4,194 MX$70.8K

473.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 $53.4

$47.38 MX$800

12.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.07 $42.07

$43.45 MX$734

-3.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$80.2 MX$1,355

10.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$91.4 MX$1,543

26.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$1,086 MX$18.3K

27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$409 MX$6,900

221.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,790 $2,790

$1,972 MX$33.3K

41.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,067 $2,067

$1,281 MX$21.6K

61.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,343 $2,343

$4,046 MX$68.3K

-42.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,105 $2,105

$6,704 MX$113.2K

-68.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,932 $4,932

$773 MX$13.1K

537.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

11.45

-46.55%

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

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: September 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,381 in Edwardsville, IL versus $1,086 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 538% higher in Edwardsville, IL, 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 $76.0 in Edwardsville, IL versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 vs $278 – 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

Edwardsville, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Edwardsville, IL 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 $4,057 per month in Edwardsville, IL and $1,958 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 $2,705 in Edwardsville, IL and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,705. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edwardsville, IL 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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