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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,589 in Elgin, IL versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,129 in Elgin, IL versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Elgin, IL costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Elgin, IL 24% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.61 $19.61

$11.96 MX$203

63.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$47.38 MX$805

27.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$11.75 MX$200

-14.47%

Cappuccino

$4.01 $4.01

$4.12 MX$70.1

-2.67%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.40 MX$23.78

117.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.91 MX$15.50

117.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$3.21 MX$54.5

87.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.07 MX$120

-29.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.68 MX$28.49

-48.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.15 MX$36.53

68.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$1.77 MX$30.14

175.71%

Eggs

$3.92 $3.92

$2.82 MX$47.83

39.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 $11.21

$9.20 MX$156

21.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.42 $13.42

$9.23 MX$157

45.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.00 $12.00

$12.64 MX$215

-5.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.95 MX$50.1

50.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.58 MX$26.83

-15.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.22 MX$37.76

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.36 MX$40.15

77.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.99 MX$33.86

-3.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.98 MX$33.63

1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.24 MX$21.07

46.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.21 MX$20.58

95.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.80 $10.80

$4.60 MX$78.2

134.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 $15.56

$10.52 MX$179

47.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.69 MX$28.74

60.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.77 MX$47.13

29.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.24 MX$89.0

-23.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.65 MX$62.0

-46.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.49 $28.49

$5.78 MX$98.3

392.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.54 MX$26.13

-35.06%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

54.68%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.8K MX$438.5K

-2.94%

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

$101 $101

$90.7 MX$1,540

11.54%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$25.19 MX$428

112.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.20 $49.20

$31.75 MX$539

54.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,169

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$14.94 $14.94

$4.86 MX$82.6

207.41%

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

$1,716 $1,716

$226 MX$3,834

660.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$4,194 MX$71.2K

461.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.21 $40.21

$47.38 MX$805

-15.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.96 $49.96

$43.45 MX$738

14.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$80.2 MX$1,363

27.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$91.4 MX$1,552

31.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,943

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$1,972 MX$33.5K

13.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 $1,778

$1,281 MX$21.8K

38.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,256 $2,256

$4,046 MX$68.7K

-44.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,218 $2,218

$6,704 MX$113.9K

-66.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,947 $3,947

$773 MX$13.1K

410.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

11.45

-45.33%

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

Last update for Elgin, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Elgin, IL pays 410% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $61.0 in Elgin, IL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $278 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

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

Elgin, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 410% higher in Elgin, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $1,716 in Elgin, IL versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elgin, IL – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,049 in Elgin, IL versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Elgin, IL but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Elgin, IL the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Elgin, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Elgin, IL and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Elgin, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.