Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,193 in Moline, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moline, IL, United States
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Moline, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,193
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moline, IL and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moline, IL and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,193 per month in Moline, IL vs $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Moline, IL $2,193
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

A couple spends around $3,245 per month in Moline, IL vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Moline, IL $3,245
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,297 per month in Moline, IL vs $2,962 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Moline, IL $4,297
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Moline, IL costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Moline, IL sits 62% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.41 $20.41
$10.67 MX$199
91.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.3 $89.3
$43.80 MX$815
103.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.30 $8.30
$11.79 MX$219
-29.60%
Cappuccino
$5.09 $5.09
$3.79 MX$70.5
34.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.30 MX$24.14
101.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.83 MX$15.51
81.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.15 MX$58.6
25.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.93 MX$91.8
-20.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.41 MX$26.22
-29.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.20 MX$40.86
63.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$1.47 MX$27.40
262.59%
Eggs
$3.42 $3.42
$2.50 MX$46.47
36.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.97 $13.97
$7.29 MX$136
91.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.59 $11.59
$7.95 MX$148
45.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.30 $15.30
$12.86 MX$239
18.97%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$2.90 MX$53.9
79.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.38 MX$25.74
15.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$2.49 MX$46.36
63.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$2.03 MX$37.78
144.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.02 MX$37.69
31.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.90 MX$35.42
44.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.14 MX$21.30
78.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.24 MX$23.06
116.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80 $13.80
$4.27 MX$79.5
223.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$9.81 MX$183
54.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.59 MX$29.51
10.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.75 MX$51.1
-36.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 $1.10
$0.51 MX$9.58
115.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.35 $32.35
$27.39 MX$510
18.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 $3.18
$4.76 MX$88.6
-33.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$3.25 MX$60.5
-47.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.18 $25.18
$5.39 MX$100
367.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.53 MX$28.44
-22.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$21.2K MX$394.8K
66.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$23.3K MX$432.9K
3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$83.5 MX$1,554
130.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$23.19 MX$431
204.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$27.61 MX$514
121.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 $50.6
$56.4 MX$1,050
-10.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.45 $38.45
$28.19 MX$525
36.40%
Cinema Ticket
$17.91 $17.91
$5.00 MX$93.1
258.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,804 $1,804
$207 MX$3,854
771.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K $24.4K
$5,231 MX$97.4K
366.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6 $67.6
$43.45 MX$809
55.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 $51.5
$42.54 MX$792
21.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 $93.0
$72.8 MX$1,354
27.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2 $81.2
$88.4 MX$1,645
-8.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$990 $990
$995 MX$18.5K
-0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$909 $909
$382 MX$7,116
137.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,433 $1,433
$1,674 MX$31.2K
-14.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 $1,339
$1,081 MX$20.1K
23.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,521 $1,521
$3,909 MX$72.7K
-61.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,513 $1,513
$6,138 MX$114.2K
-75.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moline, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$832 MX$15.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.56
11.45
-51.44%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Moline, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moline, IL
$909
Playa del Carmen
$382 57.9% $527
Groceries & Markets
Moline, IL
$400
Playa del Carmen
$257 35.6% $143
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moline, IL
$324
Playa del Carmen
$134 58.6% $190
Eating Out
Moline, IL
$293
Playa del Carmen
$200 31.7% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Moline, IL
$132
Playa del Carmen
$111 15.8% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Moline, IL
$86
Playa del Carmen
$66 23.1% $20
Getting Around
Moline, IL
$48
Playa del Carmen
$50 4.1% $2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $990 in Moline, IL versus $995 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Moline, IL versus $44 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $257 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Moline, IL
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
11:49 11:49 AM
12:49 12:49 PM
1 h ahead of Moline, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,985
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.86 MXN (100 MXN = 4.79 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moline, IL Playa del Carmen 2,340 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Moline, IL
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Moline, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moline, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Moline, IL costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Moline, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,290 per month in Moline, IL and $1,804 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Moline, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $990 in Moline, IL and $995 in Playa del Carmen. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Moline, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Moline, IL and $44 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Moline, IL compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,193 in Moline, IL and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 45% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Moline, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Moline, IL at $2,193. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moline, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Moline, IL or Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Playa del Carmen to $2,193 in Moline, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Moline, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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