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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Islamabad is about 59% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 61% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$11.73 MX$203

-76.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$41.62 MX$719

-65.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$10.64 MX$184

-48.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$3.52 MX$60.8

-43.18%

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

$0.43 PKR 119

$1.51 MX$26.09

-71.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$0.97 MX$16.82

-77.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.38 MX$23.90

-31.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$1.89 MX$32.69

-67.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.64 MX$28.29

-26.22%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$2.51 MX$43.30

-52.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$8.34 MX$144

-27.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$8.34 MX$144

-59.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$10.73 MX$185

-59.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.60 MX$45.00

-60.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.46 MX$25.18

-46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$1.90 MX$32.84

-51.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$2.08 MX$35.88

-71.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.78 MX$30.68

-76.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$2.19 MX$37.76

-75.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$1.04 MX$17.97

-67.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$1.08 MX$18.60

-65.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$4.08 MX$70.5

-47.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.51 MX$8.81

-62.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$26.46 MX$457

-73.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$3.26 MX$56.4

-73.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$2.49 MX$43.05

-82.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$3.25 MX$56.1

-13.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.31 MX$22.59

-30.53%

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

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-28.96%

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

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.4K MX$404.9K

11.60%

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

$112 PKR 31.1K

$82.9 MX$1,432

34.84%

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

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$22.22 MX$384

-75.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$29.34 MX$507

-35.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$51.6 MX$892

-57.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$18.32 MX$317

-67.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$5.07 MX$87.5

-16.96%

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

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$201 MX$3,470

-69.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-46.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$36.92 MX$638

-41.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$39.79 MX$688

-30.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$78.5 MX$1,356

12.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$87.1 MX$1,505

-54.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$973 MX$16.8K

-79.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$468 MX$8,082

-76.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-68.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-75.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-60.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-89.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$664 MX$11.5K

-41.66%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad 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.

Salaries run about 71% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $249 – making Islamabad 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 145%, 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 $794 per month in Islamabad 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 Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 154% 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 $14.00 in Islamabad 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 Islamabad. 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.