😐A single person spends $1,676 per month in Murphysboro, IL vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,531 per month in Murphysboro, IL vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,386 per month in Murphysboro, IL vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Murphysboro, IL costs about 30% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Murphysboro, IL sits 22% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78$18.78
$11.71MX$198
60.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2$80.2
$46.59MX$786
72.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.07$12.07
$11.65MX$197
3.61%
Cappuccino
$6.76$6.76
$4.09MX$69.1
65.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95$2.95
$1.37MX$23.20
115.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$0.83MX$14.07
192.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87$6.87
$3.35MX$56.6
105.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90$7.90
$6.91MX$117
14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.73MX$29.15
-52.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82$1.82
$2.26MX$38.15
-19.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$1.77MX$29.86
125.99%
Eggs
$4.27$4.27
$2.73MX$46.12
56.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.87$12.87
$9.18MX$155
40.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45$9.45
$8.92MX$151
5.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.36$15.36
$12.60MX$213
21.90%
Apples(1kg)
$5.85$5.85
$3.02MX$51.0
93.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47$1.47
$1.57MX$26.51
-6.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.10$4.10
$2.13MX$35.88
92.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12$5.12
$2.26MX$38.22
126.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11$1.11
$2.00MX$33.82
-44.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$2.06MX$34.85
-6.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62$1.62
$1.18MX$19.91
37.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78$0.78
$1.20MX$20.32
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.35$10.35
$4.63MX$78.2
123.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05$10.05
$10.69MX$180
-5.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$1.62MX$27.33
53.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01$4.01
$2.88MX$48.63
39.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.30$2.30
$0.57MX$9.68
303.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$503
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.03$5.03
$5.45MX$91.9
-7.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$3.70MX$62.5
-57.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.64$20.64
$5.98MX$101
245.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98$0.98
$1.55MX$26.22
-36.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K$36.7K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
64.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K$27.4K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
5.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192$192
$89.1MX$1,504
115.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.38$32.38
$25.04MX$423
29.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.82$38.82
$31.50MX$532
23.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.37$36.37
$67.8MX$1,144
-46.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.83$8.83
$5.05MX$85.2
74.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,483$1,483
$225MX$3,797
559.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.9K$30.9K
$4,222MX$71.3K
632.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.33$33.33
$47.44MX$801
-29.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.68$34.68
$44.98MX$759
-22.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8$93.8
$82.0MX$1,384
14.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$92.1MX$1,555
20.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$637$637
$1,069MX$18.0K
-40.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$561$561
$405MX$6,842
38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919$919
$1,935MX$32.7K
-52.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$865$865
$1,301MX$22.0K
-33.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$903$903
$3,995MX$67.4K
-77.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$975$975
$6,626MX$111.8K
-85.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Murphysboro, IL
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,460$2,460
$749MX$12.6K
228.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.07
11.45
-46.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Murphysboro, IL: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $637 in Murphysboro, IL versus $1,069 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.
💰Salaries run about 229% higher in Murphysboro, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Murphysboro, IL versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $277 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Murphysboro, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Murphysboro, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Murphysboro, IL costs about 30% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Murphysboro, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,513 per month in Murphysboro, IL and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Murphysboro, IL or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Murphysboro, IL and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Murphysboro, IL and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Murphysboro, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Murphysboro, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Murphysboro, IL or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Murphysboro, IL at $1,676. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Murphysboro, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Murphysboro, IL or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,293 versus $1,676 in Murphysboro, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Murphysboro, IL or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Murphysboro, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Murphysboro, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared