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: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,685 in Berwyn, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,982 in Berwyn, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,280 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 6% below, Berwyn, IL is 101% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 MX$208
$19.67 $19.67
-39.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94 MX$730
$80.7 $80.7
-48.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 MX$181
$9.90 $9.90
5.25%
Cappuccino
$3.51 MX$61.2
$5.72 $5.72
-38.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 MX$26.39
$3.08 $3.08
-50.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.84
$2.14 $2.14
-57.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 MX$52.9
$4.92 $4.92
-38.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MX$76.1
$8.03 $8.03
-45.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 MX$24.73
$1.09 $1.09
30.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.87
$4.10 $4.10
-55.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.45
$5.49 $5.49
-70.31%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.20
$4.29 $4.29
-40.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 MX$149
$14.09 $14.09
-39.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$148
$12.99 $12.99
-34.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 MX$188
$18.98 $18.98
-43.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$47.94
$5.58 $5.58
-50.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.00
$1.78 $1.78
-19.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.83
$4.57 $4.57
-58.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.77
$4.81 $4.81
-54.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.97
$2.55 $2.55
-30.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 MX$38.71
$2.82 $2.82
-21.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.60
$2.38 $2.38
-55.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.79
$2.74 $2.74
-60.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$72.2
$15.27 $15.27
-72.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.45 MX$182
$15.08 $15.08
-30.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 MX$30.34
$1.89 $1.89
-7.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.92
$3.61 $3.61
-28.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.94
$1.98 $1.98
-74.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.94 MX$451
$73.9 $73.9
-64.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.21 MX$55.9
$2.72 $2.72
18.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.50 MX$43.55
$1.42 $1.42
76.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.19 MX$55.4
$21.27 $21.27
-85.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.87
$0.86 $0.86
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$516.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.1K
$25.9K $25.9K
-8.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,427
$185 $185
-55.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73 MX$395
$48.53 $48.53
-53.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42 MX$512
$65.3 $65.3
-54.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$908
$42.98 $42.98
21.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$85.9
$15.22 $15.22
-67.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,511
$1,846 $1,846
-89.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,217 MX$90.8K
$24.2K $24.2K
-78.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$625
$53.9 $53.9
-33.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$45.57 $45.57
-11.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,390
$96.3 $96.3
-17.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,554
$127 $127
-29.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MX$16.5K
$1,572 $1,572
-39.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,097
$1,333 $1,333
-65.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 MX$28.4K
$2,595 $2,595
-37.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 MX$20.8K
$2,194 $2,194
-45.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,933 MX$68.4K
$3,031 $3,031
29.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,428 MX$111.9K
$2,299 $2,299
179.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Berwyn, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$658 MX$11.5K
-
-
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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Berwyn, IL: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $1,572 in Berwyn, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $81.0 in Berwyn, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $439 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 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,888 in Playa del Carmen and $4,027 in Berwyn, IL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Berwyn, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,572 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 $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,846 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 in 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Berwyn, IL?
At $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,685 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 113% 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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