😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,587 in Lisle, IL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,783 in Lisle, IL versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,979 in Lisle, IL versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Lisle, IL is roughly 105% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisle, IL is 94% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.25$19.25
$11.72MX$203
64.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6$75.6
$41.89MX$725
80.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.96$10.96
$10.51MX$182
4.28%
Cappuccino
$5.00$5.00
$3.59MX$62.0
39.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51$2.51
$1.51MX$26.10
66.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.92MX$15.83
111.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.17$6.17
$2.96MX$51.2
108.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03$7.03
$4.41MX$76.3
59.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.40MX$24.16
-26.43%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46$3.46
$1.88MX$32.60
84.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$1.56MX$26.97
177.56%
Eggs
$4.17$4.17
$2.61MX$45.14
59.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07$12.07
$8.32MX$144
45.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.36$11.36
$8.35MX$145
36.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.37$15.37
$10.86MX$188
41.53%
Apples(1kg)
$4.86$4.86
$2.71MX$46.93
79.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65$1.65
$1.51MX$26.04
9.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.16$4.16
$1.87MX$32.41
122.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.19MX$37.89
121.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$1.86MX$32.14
55.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79$2.79
$2.23MX$38.59
25.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$1.07MX$18.48
89.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$1.09MX$18.79
95.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62$9.62
$4.19MX$72.4
129.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.66$16.66
$10.43MX$180
59.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$1.66MX$28.68
6.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27$3.27
$2.61MX$45.19
25.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.54MX$9.37
279.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.16MX$453
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.53$3.53
$3.08MX$53.3
14.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66$1.66
$2.40MX$41.61
-30.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.98$28.98
$3.13MX$54.1
825.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.31MX$22.69
-31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K$30.1K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
1.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
11.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$81.3MX$1,406
126.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1$52.1
$22.56MX$390
130.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1$67.1
$30.05MX$520
123.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.99$42.99
$52.9MX$915
-18.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.65$13.65
$4.92MX$85.1
177.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,313$1,313
$201MX$3,474
553.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K$23.3K
$5,175MX$89.5K
350.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5$51.5
$35.92MX$622
43.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.30$39.30
$40.13MX$694
-2.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8$85.8
$79.7MX$1,379
7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$86.5MX$1,496
31.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576$1,576
$978MX$16.9K
61.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,377$1,377
$470MX$8,140
192.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,642$2,642
$1,651MX$28.6K
59.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,198$2,198
$1,203MX$20.8K
82.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,707$2,707
$3,953MX$68.4K
-31.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,335$2,335
$6,607MX$114.3K
-64.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,385$5,385
$677MX$11.7K
695.85%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Lisle, IL and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisle, IL pays 696% 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: $76.0 in Lisle, IL vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $390 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
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 105% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 696% higher in Lisle, 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 Lisle, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Lisle, 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 Lisle, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% 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 $2,587 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 105% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,587 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 $1,260 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 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 105% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.