😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,629 in Libertyville, IL versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,799 in Libertyville, IL versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,970 in Libertyville, IL versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Libertyville, IL is roughly 107% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Libertyville, IL is 96% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10$17.10
$11.87MX$204
44.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4$60.4
$42.90MX$736
40.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.88$9.88
$10.65MX$183
-7.23%
Cappuccino
$4.05$4.05
$3.45MX$59.2
17.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$1.50MX$25.81
56.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$0.95MX$16.28
131.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.35$4.35
$3.03MX$51.9
43.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95$5.95
$4.61MX$79.1
29.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81$0.81
$1.38MX$23.61
-41.30%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02$3.02
$1.85MX$31.70
63.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.96$4.96
$1.61MX$27.65
208.07%
Eggs
$4.83$4.83
$2.59MX$44.51
86.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.08$17.08
$8.26MX$142
106.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.92$10.92
$8.37MX$144
30.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.35$20.35
$10.66MX$183
90.90%
Apples(1kg)
$5.34$5.34
$2.63MX$45.12
103.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22$1.22
$1.49MX$25.53
-18.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.44$5.44
$1.92MX$32.94
183.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$2.09MX$35.81
168.90%
Potato(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$1.86MX$31.88
92.47%
Onion(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$2.26MX$38.81
99.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02$2.02
$1.06MX$18.23
90.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$1.09MX$18.67
40.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04$8.04
$4.15MX$71.2
93.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.04$12.04
$10.39MX$178
15.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$1.72MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83$3.83
$2.61MX$44.85
46.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.54MX$9.30
279.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.94MX$462
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.10$5.10
$3.13MX$53.7
62.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20$2.20
$2.51MX$43.09
-12.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.4$50.4
$3.15MX$54.1
1500.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.27MX$21.88
-29.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K$30.5K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245$245
$83.0MX$1,425
194.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.1$57.1
$22.71MX$390
151.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3$72.3
$29.46MX$506
145.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.21$42.21
$51.0MX$875
-17.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93$14.93
$4.93MX$84.5
202.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$974$974
$197MX$3,386
393.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
345.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5$52.5
$36.90MX$633
42.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.21$47.21
$39.89MX$685
18.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8$93.8
$80.0MX$1,373
17.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100$100
$89.5MX$1,536
11.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,609$1,609
$956MX$16.4K
68.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,338$1,338
$477MX$8,189
180.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,606$2,606
$1,646MX$28.3K
58.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,218$2,218
$1,225MX$21.0K
81.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,651$2,651
$3,918MX$67.2K
-32.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,388$2,388
$6,459MX$110.9K
-63.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,449$4,449
$667MX$11.4K
566.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
11.42
-42.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Libertyville, IL: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,609 in Libertyville, IL and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Libertyville, IL pays 567% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Libertyville, IL vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $250 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
Libertyville, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Libertyville, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Libertyville, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Libertyville, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Libertyville, IL pays 567% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Libertyville, IL vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,609 in Libertyville, IL versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Libertyville, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Libertyville, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Libertyville, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,629 per month in Libertyville, IL versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Libertyville, IL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,629 in Libertyville, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Libertyville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Libertyville, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Libertyville, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Libertyville, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Libertyville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Libertyville, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared