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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Gilgit vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $780 per month in Gilgit vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Gilgit is about 70% 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 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 PKR 506

$11.94 MX$208

-84.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.79 PKR 3,012

$42.75 MX$744

-74.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 PKR 1,156

$10.59 MX$184

-60.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 504

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 PKR 1,010

Cappuccino

$1.43 PKR 400

$3.62 MX$63.0

-60.50%

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

$0.32 PKR 88.9

$1.47 MX$25.54

-78.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 PKR 64.5

$0.94 MX$16.41

-75.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 PKR 201

$1.43 MX$24.80

-49.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 PKR 165

$1.88 MX$32.79

-68.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 PKR 322

$1.63 MX$28.34

-29.45%

Eggs

$1.24 PKR 347

$2.64 MX$45.99

-53.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.95 PKR 1,101

$8.21 MX$143

-51.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.00 PKR 838

$8.29 MX$144

-63.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.61 PKR 1,008

$11.10 MX$193

-67.48%

Apples (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$2.65 MX$46.14

-80.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 143

$1.50 MX$26.11

-66.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.65 PKR 182

$1.99 MX$34.59

-67.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 144

$2.08 MX$36.13

-75.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 PKR 97.3

$1.79 MX$31.11

-80.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 169

$2.18 MX$37.87

-72.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 PKR 92.4

$1.08 MX$18.73

-69.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PKR 132

$1.04 MX$18.04

-54.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.23 PKR 344

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 257

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 554

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.91 PKR 533

$3.97 MX$69.1

-51.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 57.1

$0.52 MX$9.02

-61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.89 PKR 1,922

$26.97 MX$469

-74.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 240

$3.14 MX$54.7

-72.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$2.40 MX$41.80

-81.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.74 PKR 485

$3.09 MX$53.7

-43.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 PKR 271

$1.27 MX$22.16

-23.62%

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

$21.4K PKR 6.0M

$30.9K MX$537.3K

-30.63%

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

$23.1K PKR 6.5M

$23.3K MX$405.7K

-0.89%

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

$103 PKR 28.7K

$82.0 MX$1,427

25.58%

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

$1.93 PKR 539

$22.45 MX$391

-91.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 PKR 3,804

$29.66 MX$516

-54.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.33 PKR 3,443

$51.9 MX$903

-76.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.97 PKR 1,665

$18.67 MX$325

-68.02%

Cinema Ticket

$3.62 PKR 1,010

$4.97 MX$86.5

-27.16%

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

$14.35 PKR 4,006

$198 MX$3,442

-92.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,116 PKR 311.6K

$5,273 MX$91.7K

-78.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.95 PKR 4,173

$36.34 MX$632

-58.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.52 PKR 6,285

$40.05 MX$697

-43.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 PKR 19.2K

$79.9 MX$1,390

-13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.02 PKR 8,101

$88.9 MX$1,547

-67.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 PKR 21.2K

$963 MX$16.8K

-92.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.3 PKR 14.6K

$465 MX$8,086

-88.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 PKR 47.3K

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-89.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 PKR 29.0K

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-91.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$813 PKR 227.0K

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-79.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$584 PKR 163.0K

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-90.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$179 PKR 50.1K

$720 MX$12.5K

-75.08%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $75.9 in Gilgit versus $963 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 301% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $80.0 vs $251 – 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 234% 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 $578 per month in Gilgit and $1,930 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 212% 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 $43.00 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 $1,287. 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 $1,287 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.