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

🙂 Solo nomad: Islamabad is 61.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 57.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Islamabad is 51.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 62.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 PKR 806
$11.99 MX$227
-76.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.4 PKR 4,068
$42.47 MX$803
-66.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 PKR 1,491
$10.47 MX$198
-49.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 PKR 496
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 PKR 1,083
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.01 PKR 567
$3.6 MX$68.2
-44.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 111
$1.44 MX$27.16
-72.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 PKR 68.1
$0.89 MX$16.79
-73.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 MX$58.5
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.58 MX$86.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 PKR 282
$1.38 MX$26.04
-27.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 PKR 188
$1.85 MX$34.9
-63.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 344
$1.57 MX$29.68
-22.29%
Eggs
$1.27 PKR 358
$2.55 MX$48.3
-50.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 PKR 1,736
$8.61 MX$163
-28.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 PKR 1,004
$8.54 MX$161
-58.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.31 PKR 1,216
$10.98 MX$208
-60.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 PKR 292
$2.72 MX$51.4
-62.13%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 PKR 239
$1.51 MX$28.57
-43.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.9 PKR 255
$1.88 MX$35.63
-52.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 167
$2.19 MX$41.42
-73.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 PKR 118
$1.87 MX$35.3
-77.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PKR 148
$2.19 MX$41.37
-76.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 PKR 87.3
$1.07 MX$20.23
-71.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 PKR 114
$1.09 MX$20.64
-63.30%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.78 PKR 503
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PKR 247
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 PKR 554
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 PKR 613
$3.96 MX$74.9
-45.20%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$8.86 MX$167
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72 MX$32.53
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 MX$49.37
-
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 PKR 53
$0.52 MX$9.74
-63.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.95 PKR 1,964
$26.59 MX$503
-73.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 239
$3.24 MX$61.2
-73.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 PKR 123
$2.38 MX$44.94
-81.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.9 PKR 820
$3.11 MX$58.7
-6.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 PKR 277
$1.31 MX$24.85
-25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K PKR 6.1M
$30.3K MX$573K
-28.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K PKR 7.3M
$24K MX$453.6K
8.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 PKR 31.3K
$84.2 MX$1,592
31.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.35 PKR 1,512
$22.14 MX$419
-75.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.38 PKR 5,191
$30.14 MX$570
-39.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.44 PKR 6,339
$52 MX$983
-56.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 PKR 1,700
$18.72 MX$354
-67.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.3 PKR 1,214
$5.07 MX$95.9
-15.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.2 PKR 16.7K
$200 MX$3,787
-70.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,713 PKR 766.3K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-49.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.17 PKR 5,980
$35.74 MX$676
-40.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.14 PKR 7,947
$39.8 MX$753
-29.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.7 PKR 24.8K
$79 MX$1,493
11.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.86 PKR 11.3K
$88.4 MX$1,671
-54.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 PKR 57K
$965 MX$18.3K
-79.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 PKR 31.5K
$474 MX$8,968
-76.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PKR 141.1K
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-69.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 PKR 84.3K
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-75.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,315 PKR 371.4K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-57.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$781 PKR 220.5K
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-89.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 PKR 81.6K
$792 MX$15K
-63.51%
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 Islamabad: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.