Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,340 in Bradley, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Bradley, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,340
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Bradley, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Bradley, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,340 in Bradley, IL.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Bradley, IL $2,340

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,428 in Bradley, IL.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Bradley, IL $3,428

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,517 in Bradley, IL.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Bradley, IL $4,517

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 49% less than in Bradley, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 11% below, Bradley, IL is 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$14.80 $14.80
-26.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$62.6 $62.6
-29.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$7.84 $7.84
50.00%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$5.61 $5.61
-34.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$2.16 $2.16
-37.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$1.13 $1.13
-27.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$5.37 $5.37
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$4.93 $4.93
0.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$0.98 $0.98
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$2.38 $2.38
-6.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$4.08 $4.08
-63.73%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$3.94 $3.94
-36.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$12.33 $12.33
-39.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$15.71 $15.71
-49.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$16.47 $16.47
-23.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$5.91 $5.91
-52.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$2.41 $2.41
-40.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$3.99 $3.99
-34.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$5.32 $5.32
-59.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$3.24 $3.24
-37.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$2.73 $2.73
-27.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.02 $2.02
-43.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$1.99 $1.99
-39.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$12.16 $12.16
-64.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$14.67 $14.67
-31.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$2.15 $2.15
-28.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$4.06 $4.06
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$1.83 $1.83
-71.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$5.57 $5.57
-12.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$2.90 $2.90
18.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$17.19 $17.19
-68.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.12 $1.12
29.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$27.6K $27.6K
-23.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$26.4K $26.4K
-12.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$219 $219
-61.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$51.7 $51.7
-54.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$64.9 $64.9
-56.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$44.30 $44.30
40.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$9.56 $9.56
-46.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$1,228 $1,228
-83.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$12.4K $12.4K
-68.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$46.39 $46.39
-4.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$24.79 $24.79
66.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$58.5 $58.5
24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$50.2 $50.2
78.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$1,476 $1,476
-33.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$1,161 $1,161
-67.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$2,202 $2,202
-23.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$1,977 $1,977
-44.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$2,548 $2,548
55.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$2,217 $2,217
176.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bradley, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.82
67.89%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Bradley, IL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Bradley, IL
$1.2K 211% $788
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Bradley, IL
$413 59.7% $154
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Bradley, IL
$259 29.4% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Bradley, IL
$336 145% $199
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Bradley, IL
$81 27.5% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Bradley, IL
$63 12.4% $9
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Bradley, IL
$27 * 47% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $979 in Playa del Carmen and $1,476 in Bradley, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $63.0 in Bradley, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $413 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Bradley, IL
🕒 Local time
20:44 8:44 PM
20:44 8:44 PM
Same time as Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
15,419
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Bradley, IL 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Bradley, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bradley, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Bradley, IL?
Playa del Carmen and Bradley, IL differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($1,204 vs $2,340 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Bradley, IL?
You'd need roughly $1,806 in Playa del Carmen and $3,510 in Bradley, 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Bradley, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,476 in Bradley, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Bradley, IL?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,228 in Bradley, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $63.0 in Bradley, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,340 in Bradley, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bradley, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Bradley, IL?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Bradley, IL?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Bradley, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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