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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,524 per month in Evanston, IL vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,366 per month in Evanston, IL vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,208 per month in Evanston, IL vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Evanston, IL costs about 95% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Evanston, IL sits 88% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$11.73 MX$203

73.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$41.62 MX$721

89.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$10.64 MX$184

12.12%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$3.52 MX$61.0

53.69%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$1.51 MX$26.17

80.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.97 MX$16.87

135.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.13 $7.13

$2.95 MX$51.1

141.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$4.45 MX$77.2

56.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.38 MX$23.97

-21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.89 MX$32.78

96.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$1.64 MX$28.37

226.22%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.51 MX$43.42

87.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 $13.68

$8.34 MX$145

64.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$8.34 MX$145

59.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.14 $19.14

$10.73 MX$186

78.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.60 MX$45.12

73.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.46 MX$25.25

15.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.90 MX$32.94

127.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$2.08 MX$35.98

116.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.78 MX$30.77

43.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.19 MX$37.87

31.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.04 MX$18.02

87.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.08 MX$18.66

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$4.08 MX$70.7

148.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.32 MX$179

45.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.71 MX$29.67

40.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.58 MX$44.63

39.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 $2.81

$0.51 MX$8.83

450.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.7 $73.7

$26.46 MX$459

178.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.26 MX$56.5

35.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.49 MX$43.17

-42.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.76 $42.76

$3.25 MX$56.3

1215.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.31 MX$22.65

-35.88%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$30.3K MX$524.7K

-2.40%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$23.4K MX$406.0K

8.27%

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

$187 $187

$82.9 MX$1,436

125.17%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$22.22 MX$385

177.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$29.34 MX$508

159.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 $75.3

$51.6 MX$895

45.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$61.0 $61.0

$18.32 MX$317

232.86%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$5.07 MX$87.8

196.84%

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

$1,658 $1,658

$201 MX$3,480

725.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$5,212 MX$90.3K

583.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 $63.0

$36.92 MX$640

70.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 $48.80

$39.79 MX$689

22.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 $99.9

$78.5 MX$1,360

27.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$87.1 MX$1,509

52.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 $1,627

$973 MX$16.9K

67.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$468 MX$8,105

136.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,938 $3,938

$1,641 MX$28.4K

139.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,942 $2,942

$1,221 MX$21.2K

140.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K $14.4K

$3,946 MX$68.4K

264.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$12.9K $12.9K

$6,498 MX$112.6K

98.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,564 $5,564

$664 MX$11.5K

738.00%

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 Evanston, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Evanston, IL versus $973 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 738% higher in Evanston, 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 $79.0 in Evanston, IL versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $420 vs $249 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,524 in Evanston, IL, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 95% apart. Evanston, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,785 per month in Evanston, IL and $1,945 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.

Groceries cost about 69% more in Evanston, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Evanston, IL and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Evanston, IL at $2,524. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Evanston, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $2,524 in Evanston, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Evanston, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.