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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,777 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,032 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,287 in Berwyn, IL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 53% less than in Berwyn, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Berwyn, IL is 107% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$205
$19.76 $19.76
-40.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$727
$79.3 $79.3
-47.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$186
$10.07 $10.07
5.66%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.5
$5.60 $5.60
-37.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.37
$3.09 $3.09
-51.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$17.00
$2.17 $2.17
-55.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$5.08 $5.08
-41.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.8
$7.88 $7.88
-43.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$24.16
$1.09 $1.09
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$33.04
$4.06 $4.06
-53.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.59
$5.35 $5.35
-69.35%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.76
$4.23 $4.23
-40.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$14.43 $14.43
-42.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$146
$13.41 $13.41
-37.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$187
$19.53 $19.53
-45.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.48
$5.63 $5.63
-53.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.45
$1.71 $1.71
-14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$33.19
$4.46 $4.46
-57.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.26
$4.94 $4.94
-57.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$31.01
$2.57 $2.57
-30.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.16
$2.84 $2.84
-22.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.16
$2.49 $2.49
-58.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.80
$2.63 $2.63
-58.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$71.3
$15.26 $15.26
-73.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$180
$15.73 $15.73
-34.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.90
$1.84 $1.84
-7.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.98
$3.61 $3.61
-28.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.90
$1.98 $1.98
-74.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$462
$74.4 $74.4
-64.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$57.0
$2.76 $2.76
18.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.51
$1.37 $1.37
81.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.7
$21.05 $21.05
-84.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.83
$0.79 $0.79
65.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$528.8K
$31.5K $31.5K
-3.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$409.2K
$26.0K $26.0K
-9.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,447
$185 $185
-55.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$388
$47.17 $47.17
-52.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$512
$65.2 $65.2
-55.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$902
$42.98 $42.98
20.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$88.5
$15.10 $15.10
-66.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,507
$1,786 $1,786
-88.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$91.0K
$24.3K $24.3K
-78.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$645
$54.4 $54.4
-32.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$695
$45.19 $45.19
-11.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,370
$94.6 $94.6
-17.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,521
$123 $123
-29.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$17.0K
$1,612 $1,612
-39.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,169
$1,332 $1,332
-64.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.7K
$2,615 $2,615
-37.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.3K
$2,257 $2,257
-45.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.9K
$2,392 $2,392
65.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$113.5K
$2,363 $2,363
175.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.6K
$4,009 $4,009
-83.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.55
74.35%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,612 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Berwyn, IL pays 504% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $79.0 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $442 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 114% 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 504% 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,612 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,786 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 78% 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,777 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 – expenses run 114% less than in Berwyn, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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