Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Gilgit and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $385 per month in Gilgit vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $581 per month in Gilgit vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $778 per month in Gilgit vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gilgit is about 69% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gilgit and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Gilgit 71% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 PKR 495

$11.72 MX$204

-84.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.62 PKR 2,948

$41.89 MX$731

-74.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 PKR 1,146

$10.51 MX$183

-60.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$1.51 PKR 418

$3.59 MX$62.5

-57.94%

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

$0.34 PKR 95.6

$1.51 MX$26.31

-77.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 63.9

$0.92 MX$15.96

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.9

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 PKR 215

$1.40 MX$24.35

-45.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 167

$1.88 MX$32.87

-68.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 PKR 333

$1.56 MX$27.19

-23.08%

Eggs

$1.31 PKR 363

$2.61 MX$45.50

-49.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,097

$8.32 MX$145

-52.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.02 PKR 837

$8.35 MX$146

-63.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.74 PKR 1,037

$10.86 MX$189

-65.56%

Apples (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.71 MX$47.31

-80.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 142

$1.51 MX$26.25

-66.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 181

$1.87 MX$32.67

-65.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 PKR 140

$2.19 MX$38.19

-77.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 96.3

$1.86 MX$32.40

-81.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 PKR 178

$2.23 MX$38.90

-71.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.8

$1.07 MX$18.63

-69.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$1.09 MX$18.94

-56.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 PKR 547

$4.19 MX$73.0

-52.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$182

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.5

$0.54 MX$9.45

-62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.24 PKR 2,008

$26.16 MX$456

-72.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 PKR 250

$3.08 MX$53.7

-70.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 119

$2.40 MX$41.94

-82.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PKR 504

$3.13 MX$54.5

-41.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 PKR 249

$1.31 MX$22.87

-31.30%

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

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

-28.61%

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

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

-3.51%

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

$101 PKR 28.0K

$81.3 MX$1,418

24.24%

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

$1.89 PKR 526

$22.56 MX$393

-91.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.94 PKR 3,870

$30.05 MX$524

-53.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.50 PKR 3,468

$52.9 MX$923

-76.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.10 PKR 1,693

$18.39 MX$321

-66.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,005

$4.92 MX$85.8

-26.42%

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

$13.89 PKR 3,855

$201 MX$3,502

-93.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-78.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.08 PKR 4,185

$35.92 MX$627

-58.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.07 PKR 6,127

$40.13 MX$700

-45.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

$79.7 MX$1,390

-13.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.80 PKR 7,993

$86.5 MX$1,508

-66.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$978 MX$17.1K

-92.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

$470 MX$8,206

-88.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 PKR 46.3K

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-89.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$107 PKR 29.8K

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-91.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$892 PKR 247.5K

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-77.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$480 PKR 133.3K

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-92.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 49.8K

$677 MX$11.8K

-73.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

66.37%

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

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.9 in Gilgit 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.

Salaries run about 277% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $82.0 vs $252 – making Gilgit 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

Gilgit vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 228% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $577 per month in Gilgit and $1,890 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 Gilgit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 207% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Gilgit and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $385, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Gilgit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $385 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gilgit. 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.