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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 35.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 58.3% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 52.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 50.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$20.82 $20.82
-42.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$100 $100
-57.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.97 $11.97
-12.53%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$5.56 $5.56
-35.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.11 $3.11
-53.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.42 $2.42
-63.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$6.86 $6.86
-54.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$8.45 $8.45
-45.80%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.04 $1.04
32.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$4.15 $4.15
-55.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$5.52 $5.52
-71.56%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$4.65 $4.65
-45.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$14.33 $14.33
-39.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$14.88 $14.88
-42.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$19.34 $19.34
-43.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.17 $5.17
-47.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.71 $1.71
-11.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$4.41 $4.41
-57.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$4.51 $4.51
-51.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$2.53 $2.53
-26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.74 $2.74
-20.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$2.43 $2.43
-55.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.7 $2.7
-59.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$15.19 $15.19
-73.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$16.42 $16.42
-46.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.7 $3.7
-29.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.53 $2.53
-79.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
$74.1 $74.1
-64.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$3.34 $3.34
-2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$1.42 $1.42
67.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$25.42 $25.42
-87.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.08 $1.08
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$188 $188
-55.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$63.7 $63.7
-65.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$65.2 $65.2
-53.77%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$76.7 $76.7
-32.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
$13.03 $13.03
43.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$14.93 $14.93
-66.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$2,063 $2,063
-90.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-86.39%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$64.3 $64.3
-44.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$52.4 $52.4
-24.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$95.2 $95.2
-17.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$145 $145
-38.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$2,378 $2,378
-59.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$1,584 $1,584
-70.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$4,763 $4,763
-65.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$2,815 $2,815
-57.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$3,588 $3,588
-14.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,490 $2,490
202.35%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$5,275 $5,275
-84.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.6
73.03%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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