😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,594 in Lisle, IL versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,817 in Lisle, IL versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,040 in Lisle, IL versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 102% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisle, IL is 94% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85$18.85
$11.94MX$209
57.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9$74.9
$42.75MX$748
75.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09$11.09
$10.59MX$185
4.72%
Cappuccino
$5.18$5.18
$3.62MX$63.4
43.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$1.47MX$25.69
69.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.94MX$16.51
118.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92$5.92
$3.09MX$54.1
91.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20$7.20
$4.46MX$78.0
61.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.43MX$24.94
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$1.88MX$32.97
81.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$1.63MX$28.50
173.62%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$2.64MX$46.26
60.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.28$12.28
$8.21MX$144
49.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.63$11.63
$8.29MX$145
40.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.55$15.55
$11.10MX$194
40.09%
Apples(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$2.65MX$46.40
81.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.50MX$26.26
4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.37$4.37
$1.99MX$34.79
119.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61$4.61
$2.08MX$36.33
121.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.79MX$31.29
56.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.18MX$38.09
31.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.08MX$18.84
92.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$1.04MX$18.15
103.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.44$9.44
$3.97MX$69.5
137.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.65$16.65
$10.20MX$179
63.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.73MX$30.22
2.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$2.50MX$43.71
33.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.52MX$9.07
294.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59$3.59
$3.14MX$55.0
14.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$2.40MX$42.04
-34.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33$29.33
$3.09MX$54.0
849.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.27MX$22.28
-33.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-3.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
10.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$82.0MX$1,435
132.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6$52.6
$22.45MX$393
134.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4$67.4
$29.66MX$519
127.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.67$43.67
$51.9MX$908
-15.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.52$13.52
$4.97MX$87.0
172.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,298$1,298
$198MX$3,462
556.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$5,273MX$92.3K
339.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5$50.5
$36.34MX$636
39.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35$39.35
$40.05MX$701
-1.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4$86.4
$79.9MX$1,398
8.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$88.9MX$1,555
24.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621$1,621
$963MX$16.9K
68.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,353$1,353
$465MX$8,133
191.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,601$2,601
$1,596MX$27.9K
62.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,204$2,204
$1,209MX$21.2K
82.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,649$2,649
$3,942MX$69.0K
-32.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,321$2,321
$6,448MX$112.8K
-64.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,422$5,422
$720MX$12.6K
652.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.42
-42.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisle, IL: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisle, IL and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisle, IL pays 653% 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: $75.0 in Lisle, IL vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $251 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
Lisle, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisle, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Lisle, 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 Lisle, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Lisle, IL pays 653% 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 Lisle, IL vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisle, IL versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisle, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Lisle, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisle, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,594 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lisle, IL or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,594 in Lisle, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lisle, 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, Lisle, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 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 Lisle, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Lisle, 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 102% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.