Cost of Living Comparison Between Rock Island, IL and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Rock Island, IL and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,540 per month in Rock Island, IL vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,763 per month in Rock Island, IL vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,986 per month in Rock Island, IL vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Rock Island, IL costs about 96% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Rock Island, IL sits 90% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.09 $16.09

$11.73 MX$205

37.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.0 $91.0

$41.62 MX$727

118.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$10.64 MX$186

10.81%

Cappuccino

$6.36 $6.36

$3.52 MX$61.5

80.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.51 MX$26.37

72.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$0.97 MX$17.00

140.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 $5.13

$2.95 MX$51.5

73.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$4.45 MX$77.8

55.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.38 MX$24.16

-34.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.89 MX$33.04

35.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.64 MX$28.59

37.80%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$2.51 MX$43.76

42.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 $12.92

$8.34 MX$146

54.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.70 $14.70

$8.34 MX$146

76.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.60 $18.60

$10.73 MX$187

73.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.60 MX$45.48

68.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.46 MX$25.45

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$1.90 MX$33.19

91.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.08 MX$36.26

65.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.78 MX$31.01

-5.62%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.19 MX$38.16

38.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.04 MX$18.16

132.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.08 MX$18.80

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$4.08 MX$71.3

115.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.32 MX$180

47.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.71 MX$29.90

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.58 MX$44.98

51.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.51 MX$8.90

282.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.26 MX$57.0

-39.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.49 MX$43.51

-36.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.03 $20.03

$3.25 MX$56.7

516.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.31 MX$22.83

-37.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$30.3K MX$528.8K

-13.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K $24.4K

$23.4K MX$409.2K

4.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$147 $147

$82.9 MX$1,447

77.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.4 $50.4

$22.22 MX$388

127.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$29.34 MX$512

154.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 $42.74

$51.6 MX$902

-17.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$320

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$5.07 MX$88.5

193.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$201 MX$3,507

587.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K $11.6K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

123.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 $62.6

$36.92 MX$645

69.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.52 $49.52

$39.79 MX$695

24.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 $73.6

$78.5 MX$1,370

-6.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$87.1 MX$1,521

64.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 $1,630

$973 MX$17.0K

67.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 $1,361

$468 MX$8,169

190.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,636 $2,636

$1,641 MX$28.7K

60.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,192 $2,192

$1,221 MX$21.3K

79.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,552 $2,552

$3,946 MX$68.9K

-35.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,352 $2,352

$6,498 MX$113.5K

-63.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

11.42

-42.12%

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

Last update for Rock Island, IL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,630 in Rock Island, IL versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $91.0 in Rock Island, IL versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $371 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Rock Island, IL vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rock Island, IL is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,810 per month in Rock Island, IL and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,540 in Rock Island, IL and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,381 per month in Rock Island, IL and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Rock Island, IL at $2,540. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rock Island, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rock Island, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.