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

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 0.9% more expensive than Elgin, IL without rent, and 46.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 30.4% cheaper than Elgin, IL without rent, and 34.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$15.15 $15.15
-20.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$59.5 $59.5
-28.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$10.04 $10.04
4.28%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$4.04 $4.04
-10.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$2.63 $2.63
-45.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$1.97 $1.97
-54.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$6.12 $6.12
-49.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$4.89 $4.89
-6.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$0.74 $0.74
86.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$3.69 $3.69
-49.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$5.37 $5.37
-70.76%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$3.95 $3.95
-35.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$11.06 $11.06
-22.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$13.21 $13.21
-35.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$10.81 $10.81
1.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$2.24 $2.24
21.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$1.08 $1.08
39.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$1.63 $1.63
15.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$2.71 $2.71
-19.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$2.66 $2.66
-29.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.92 $2.92
-25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$1.96 $1.96
-45.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$2.06 $2.06
-47.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$10.12 $10.12
-60.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$11.78 $11.78
-24.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.29 $2.29
-24.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$4.75 $4.75
-45.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$2.03 $2.03
-74.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$4.37 $4.37
-25.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
$2.22 $2.22
7.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
$27.82 $27.82
-88.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$0.83 $0.83
57.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$24.6K $24.6K
23.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$25.5K $25.5K
-5.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$98.6 $98.6
-14.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$51.7 $51.7
-57.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$50.1 $50.1
-39.79%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$42.98 $42.98
20.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$15.13 $15.13
-66.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$1,654 $1,654
-87.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$24.5K $24.5K
-78.24%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$40.7 $40.7
-12.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$47.51 $47.51
-16.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$101 $101
-21.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$131 $131
-32.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,594 $1,594
-39.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$1,372 $1,372
-65.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$2,657 $2,657
-37.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$2,267 $2,267
-46.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$2,725 $2,725
13.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$2,428 $2,428
210.12%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Elgin, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
-
-
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Elgin, IL: October 29, 2025

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