🙂A single person spends $460 per month in Daska vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $697 per month in Daska vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $934 per month in Daska vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Daska is about 63% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Daska and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Daska65% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.91PKR 808
$11.72MX$203
-75.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00PKR 3,885
$41.89MX$725
-66.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40PKR 1,500
$10.51MX$182
-48.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79PKR 496
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82PKR 1,059
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.09PKR 579
$3.59MX$62.0
-41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39PKR 109
$1.51MX$26.10
-74.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 60.8
$0.92MX$15.83
-76.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.96MX$51.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.41MX$76.3
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00PKR 277
$1.40MX$24.16
-28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 173
$1.88MX$32.60
-67.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PKR 340
$1.56MX$26.97
-21.15%
Eggs
$1.25PKR 348
$2.61MX$45.14
-52.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.31PKR 1,752
$8.32MX$144
-24.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43PKR 951
$8.35MX$145
-58.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.49PKR 1,245
$10.86MX$188
-58.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.00PKR 276
$2.71MX$46.93
-63.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78PKR 215
$1.51MX$26.04
-48.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93PKR 259
$1.87MX$32.41
-50.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56PKR 155
$2.19MX$37.89
-74.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 115
$1.86MX$32.14
-77.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PKR 149
$2.23MX$38.59
-75.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33PKR 92.3
$1.07MX$18.48
-69.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40PKR 112
$1.09MX$18.79
-63.30%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.41PKR 391
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93PKR 257
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04PKR 567
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08PKR 578
$4.19MX$72.4
-50.36%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.43MX$180
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66MX$28.68
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$45.19
-
🚌 Getting Around
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.95
$0.54MX$9.37
-70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.24PKR 2,011
$26.16MX$453
-72.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92PKR 254
$3.08MX$53.3
-70.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44PKR 121
$2.40MX$41.61
-81.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76PKR 767
$3.13MX$54.1
-11.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93PKR 258
$1.31MX$22.69
-29.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KPKR 5.8M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-29.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
14.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111PKR 30.9K
$81.3MX$1,406
36.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.60PKR 1,555
$22.56MX$390
-75.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65PKR 5,175
$30.05MX$520
-37.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.16PKR 3,374
$52.9MX$915
-77.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.07PKR 1,683
$18.39MX$318
-66.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.23PKR 1,173
$4.92MX$85.1
-14.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.1PKR 17.0K
$201MX$3,474
-69.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,102PKR 305.9K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-78.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.88PKR 6,072
$35.92MX$622
-39.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.56PKR 7,648
$40.13MX$694
-31.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0PKR 24.1K
$79.7MX$1,379
9.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.47PKR 11.2K
$86.5MX$1,496
-53.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.8PKR 21.0K
$978MX$16.9K
-92.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.5PKR 14.3K
$470MX$8,140
-89.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.2K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-89.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 29.9K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-91.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$817PKR 226.6K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-79.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$514PKR 142.7K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-92.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Daska
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.2
11.42
76.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Daska: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.8 in Daska versus $978 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 $14.00 in Daska versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $100 vs $252 – making Daska 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
Daska vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Daska or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 174% more than Daska, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Daska and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $691 per month in Daska and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Daska or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daska, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Daska or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 151% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Daska and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Daska and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Daska or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daska, where all-in costs run around $460, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Daska it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Daska or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Daska costs $460 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Daska compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Daska or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Daska. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.