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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,599 in Libertyville, IL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,763 in Libertyville, IL versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,928 in Libertyville, IL versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Libertyville, IL is roughly 106% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Libertyville, IL is 95% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.03 $17.03
$11.72 MX$203
45.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9 $60.9
$41.89 MX$725
45.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$10.51 MX$182
-5.90%
Cappuccino
$4.10 $4.10
$3.59 MX$62.0
14.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.51 MX$26.10
48.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.92 MX$15.83
139.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.96 MX$51.2
40.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 $6.15
$4.41 MX$76.3
39.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.40 MX$24.16
-42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.88 MX$32.60
56.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$1.56 MX$26.97
205.13%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$2.61 MX$45.14
77.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.96 $16.96
$8.32 MX$144
103.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.96 $10.96
$8.35 MX$145
31.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.19 $20.19
$10.86 MX$188
85.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$2.71 MX$46.93
97.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.51 MX$26.04
-17.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$1.87 MX$32.41
186.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$2.19 MX$37.89
156.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.86 MX$32.14
95.70%
Onion (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$2.23 MX$38.59
94.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.07 MX$18.48
80.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.09 MX$18.79
38.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47 $8.47
$4.19 MX$72.4
102.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 $12.09
$10.43 MX$180
15.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.66 MX$28.68
6.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.61 MX$45.19
40.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.54 MX$9.37
261.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.16 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 $4.90
$3.08 MX$53.3
59.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.40 MX$41.61
-10.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.62 $49.62
$3.13 MX$54.1
1485.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.31 MX$22.69
-30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$29.8K MX$515.7K
-1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$23.3K MX$403.5K
28.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 $242
$81.3 MX$1,406
197.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$22.56 MX$390
149.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.6 $71.6
$30.05 MX$520
138.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.24 $43.24
$52.9 MX$915
-18.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.95 $14.95
$4.92 MX$85.1
203.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$956 $956
$201 MX$3,474
376.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$5,175 MX$89.5K
350.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 $52.3
$35.92 MX$622
45.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.39 $48.39
$40.13 MX$694
20.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 $93.5
$79.7 MX$1,379
17.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 $100
$86.5 MX$1,496
16.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 $1,589
$978 MX$16.9K
62.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$470 MX$8,140
191.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,581 $2,581
$1,651 MX$28.6K
56.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 $2,191
$1,203 MX$20.8K
82.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,771 $2,771
$3,953 MX$68.4K
-29.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,405 $2,405
$6,607 MX$114.3K
-63.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Libertyville, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,388 $4,388
$677 MX$11.7K
548.54%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Libertyville, IL and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Libertyville, IL pays 549% 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: $61.0 in Libertyville, IL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $252 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 106% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 549% higher in Libertyville, IL, 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Libertyville, IL versus $978 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% 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 $2,599 per month in Libertyville, IL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 106% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,599 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 $1,260 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 106% less than in Libertyville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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