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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,952 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,901 in Alton, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,849 in Alton, IL, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 35% cheaper than Alton, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Alton, IL is 43% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$14.85 $14.85

-21.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$54.8 $54.8

-13.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$7.91 $7.91

50.19%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$4.88 $4.88

-18.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.43 $1.43

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$1.10 $1.10

-25.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$4.05 $4.05

-21.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$5.05 $5.05

34.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$0.85 $0.85

97.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$2.38 $2.38

-7.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$3.02 $3.02

-43.38%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$3.93 $3.93

-30.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$12.16 $12.16

-21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$9.85 $9.85

-8.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$17.94 $17.94

-28.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$4.44 $4.44

-34.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.18 $1.18

27.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$5.09 $5.09

-57.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$4.99 $4.99

-54.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$2.18 $2.18

-9.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$2.80 $2.80

-28.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$2.05 $2.05

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$4.07 $4.07

-70.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$11.04 $11.04

-58.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$12.82 $12.82

-19.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$2.05 $2.05

-20.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$4.55 $4.55

-36.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$4.47 $4.47

20.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$2.86 $2.86

30.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$17.37 $17.37

-66.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.06 $1.06

45.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$27.9K $27.9K

-19.29%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-4.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

$434 $434

-78.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

$43.44 $43.44

-41.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$64.0 $64.0

-51.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$27.31 $27.31

146.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$14.40 $14.40

-66.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$12.6K $12.6K

-66.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$39.76 $39.76

18.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$32.28 $32.28

37.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$63.0 $63.0

27.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$74.4 $74.4

24.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$749 $749

41.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$641 $641

-39.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$1,093 $1,093

96.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$1,315 $1,315

-3.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$1,523 $1,523

162.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$1,477 $1,477

340.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$3,850 $3,850

-80.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

90.83%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Alton, IL: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $749 in Alton, IL. 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 408% higher in Alton, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $55.0 in Alton, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $389 – 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

Playa del Carmen vs Alton, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alton, IL costs about 54% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,928 in Alton, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,952 in Alton, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Alton, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Alton, IL at $1,952. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,952 in Alton, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.