Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,193 in Moline, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Moline, IL, United States
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Moline, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,193
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Moline, 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 Moline, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,193 in Moline, IL, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Moline, IL $2,193

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,245 in Moline, IL, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Moline, IL $3,245

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,297 in Moline, IL, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Moline, IL $4,297

Playa del Carmen is about 45% cheaper than Moline, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Moline, IL is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$20.41 $20.41
-47.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$89.3 $89.3
-50.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$8.30 $8.30
42.05%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$5.09 $5.09
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$2.62 $2.62
-50.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$1.51 $1.51
-45.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$3.95 $3.95
-20.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$3.92 $3.92
25.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.00 $1.00
41.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$3.59 $3.59
-38.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$5.33 $5.33
-72.42%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.47
$3.42 $3.42
-26.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$13.97 $13.97
-47.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$11.59 $11.59
-31.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$15.30 $15.30
-15.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$5.20 $5.20
-44.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.60 $1.60
-13.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.36
$4.08 $4.08
-38.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.78
$4.96 $4.96
-59.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.69
$2.66 $2.66
-24.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$2.75 $2.75
-30.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$2.04 $2.04
-44.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.06
$2.69 $2.69
-53.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$13.80 $13.80
-69.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$15.18 $15.18
-35.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$1.76 $1.76
-9.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$1.76 $1.76
56.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$1.10 $1.10
-53.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$32.35 $32.35
-15.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$3.18 $3.18
49.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$1.71 $1.71
90.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$25.18 $25.18
-78.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.18 $1.18
29.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$35.4K $35.4K
-40.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$24.1K $24.1K
-3.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$192 $192
-56.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$70.6 $70.6
-67.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$61.2 $61.2
-54.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$50.6 $50.6
11.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
$38.45 $38.45
-26.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$17.91 $17.91
-72.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$1,804 $1,804
-88.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.4K
$24.4K $24.4K
-78.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$67.6 $67.6
-35.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$51.5 $51.5
-17.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$93.0 $93.0
-21.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$81.2 $81.2
8.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$990 $990
0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$909 $909
-57.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$1,433 $1,433
16.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$1,339 $1,339
-19.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$1,521 $1,521
156.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$1,513 $1,513
305.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Moline, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.56
105.94%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Moline, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Moline, IL
$909 138% $527
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Moline, IL
$400 55.4% $143
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Moline, IL
$293 46.5% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Moline, IL
$324 141% $190
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Moline, IL
$132 18.7% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Moline, IL
$86 30.1% $20
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Moline, IL
$48 3.9% $2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $990 in Moline, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $89 in Moline, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $400 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇺🇸 Moline, IL
🕒 Local time
12:33 12:33 PM
11:33 11:33 AM
1 h behind Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
42,985
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.86 MXN (100 MXN = 4.79 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Moline, IL 2,340 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Moline, 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 Moline, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Moline, IL?
Moline, IL costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Moline, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,290 in Moline, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Moline, IL?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $995 in Playa del Carmen and $990 in Moline, IL. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Moline, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen and $89 in Moline, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Moline, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $2,193 in Moline, IL. That makes Playa del Carmen about 45% cheaper.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Moline, IL?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Moline, IL at $2,193. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moline, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Moline, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,202 in Playa del Carmen to $2,193 in Moline, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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