๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,757 in Berwyn, IL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,026 in Berwyn, IL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,294 in Berwyn, IL.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Berwyn, IL is 106% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$20.27$20.27
-42.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$79.2$79.2
-47.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.13$10.13
2.67%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$5.79$5.79
-37.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$3.07$3.07
-52.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.24$2.24
-59.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$4.93$4.93
-38.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$8.22$8.22
-45.62%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.04$1.04
32.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$4.00$4.00
-54.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$5.40$5.40
-70.19%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.14$4.14
-37.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$14.50$14.50
-41.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$13.00$13.00
-34.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$19.36$19.36
-43.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$5.57$5.57
-50.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.70$1.70
-11.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$4.46$4.46
-56.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$4.72$4.72
-55.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.57$2.57
-27.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.79$2.79
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.43$2.43
-55.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$2.62$2.62
-59.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$14.77$14.77
-71.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$15.66$15.66
-34.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.83$1.83
-8.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$3.74$3.74
-33.42%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$2.06$2.06
-73.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$73.5$73.5
-64.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$2.86$2.86
8.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.43$1.43
72.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$21.04$21.04
-84.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.86$0.86
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$31.5K$31.5K
-4.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$26.7K$26.7K
-12.25%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$188$188
-55.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$47.75$47.75
-53.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$66.9$66.9
-55.71%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$43.45$43.45
21.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$15.22$15.22
-67.48%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$1,855$1,855
-89.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$24.6K$24.6K
-78.33%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$55.5$55.5
-35.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$45.84$45.84
-12.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$95.3$95.3
-17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$127$127
-32.03%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$1,573$1,573
-37.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$1,355$1,355
-65.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$2,655$2,655
-39.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$2,231$2,231
-45.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$2,298$2,298
75.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,658$2,658
147.52%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$3,996$3,996
-82.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.55
74.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Berwyn, IL: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,573 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBerwyn, IL pays 460% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $79 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $437 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
Playa del Carmen vs Berwyn, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berwyn, IL cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Berwyn, IL?
On paper, Berwyn, IL earns 460% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Berwyn, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,573 in Berwyn, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,855 in Berwyn, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Berwyn, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Berwyn, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Berwyn, IL?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,757 in Berwyn, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Berwyn, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Berwyn, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berwyn, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Berwyn, IL?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Berwyn, IL 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 119% less than in Berwyn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared