😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,563 in Lisle, IL versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,789 in Lisle, IL versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,015 in Lisle, IL versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 102% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisle, IL is 87% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.13$17.13
$11.60MX$200
47.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6$70.6
$47.11MX$811
49.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.03$13.03
$11.88MX$205
9.68%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$3.98MX$68.5
30.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.43MX$24.57
79.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$0.82MX$14.20
146.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54$5.54
$3.19MX$54.9
73.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47$6.47
$6.79MX$117
-4.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.68MX$28.85
-44.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99$2.99
$2.20MX$37.83
35.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.86$4.86
$1.71MX$29.41
184.21%
Eggs
$3.98$3.98
$2.74MX$47.20
45.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.02$13.02
$9.58MX$165
35.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.17$12.17
$9.01MX$155
35.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.76$18.76
$12.81MX$221
46.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$2.89MX$49.74
48.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54$1.54
$1.50MX$25.78
2.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$2.15MX$36.98
93.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.43$4.43
$2.26MX$38.91
96.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.94$2.94
$1.98MX$34.10
48.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.99MX$34.26
27.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22$2.22
$1.23MX$21.25
80.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39$2.39
$1.20MX$20.60
99.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.70$8.70
$4.55MX$78.3
91.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27$14.27
$10.37MX$179
37.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$1.62MX$27.88
30.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97$2.97
$2.88MX$49.60
3.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.18$2.18
$0.60MX$10.34
263.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92$2.92
$5.39MX$92.8
-45.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84$1.84
$3.73MX$64.2
-50.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.92$28.92
$5.77MX$99.3
401.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.54MX$26.45
-40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K$40.9K
$22.5KMX$388.3K
81.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K$23.1K
$26.1KMX$448.7K
-11.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198$198
$91.4MX$1,573
117.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4$50.4
$25.20MX$434
100.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3$70.3
$31.24MX$538
125.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.62$35.62
$67.2MX$1,157
-46.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.96$14.96
$4.86MX$83.7
207.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,399$1,399
$224MX$3,851
525.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K$20.9K
$4,229MX$72.8K
395.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.25$49.25
$47.10MX$811
4.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.73$36.73
$44.29MX$763
-17.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100$100
$80.1MX$1,379
25.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$92.7MX$1,596
20.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,618$1,618
$1,063MX$18.3K
52.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303$1,303
$390MX$6,719
234.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,491$2,491
$2,149MX$37.0K
15.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,087$2,087
$1,272MX$21.9K
64.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,899$2,899
$4,001MX$68.9K
-27.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,518$2,518
$6,502MX$112.0K
-61.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
11.45
-46.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisle, IL: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,618 in Lisle, IL and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Lisle, IL vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $276 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisle, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $3,844 in Lisle, IL and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisle, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,618 in Lisle, IL versus $1,063 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% 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 $2,563 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,266 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,563 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 $1,266 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.