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 $589 per month in Islamabad vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $918 per month in Islamabad vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,246 per month in Islamabad vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Islamabad is about 54% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 57% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PKR 990

$11.71 MX$198

-69.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.74 PKR 6,309

$46.59 MX$788

-51.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PKR 1,517

$11.65 MX$197

-53.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$2.39 PKR 663

$4.09 MX$69.2

-41.56%

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

$0.32 PKR 90.0

$1.37 MX$23.23

-76.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 60.8

$0.83 MX$14.09

-73.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 PKR 275

$1.73 MX$29.20

-42.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 PKR 220

$2.26 MX$38.21

-65.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 354

$1.77 MX$29.91

-27.68%

Eggs

$1.28 PKR 356

$2.73 MX$46.19

-53.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 PKR 1,695

$9.18 MX$155

-33.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 PKR 849

$8.92 MX$151

-65.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,421

$12.60 MX$213

-59.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 PKR 371

$3.02 MX$51.1

-55.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 232

$1.57 MX$26.55

-46.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 PKR 282

$2.13 MX$35.93

-52.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 PKR 135

$2.26 MX$38.28

-78.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PKR 81.2

$2.00 MX$33.88

-85.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.4

$2.06 MX$34.90

-83.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PKR 80.8

$1.18 MX$19.94

-75.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 PKR 106

$1.20 MX$20.35

-68.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 PKR 632

$4.63 MX$78.4

-50.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.70

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 PKR 44.31

$0.57 MX$9.69

-71.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PKR 5,889

$29.83 MX$504

-28.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 PKR 353

$5.45 MX$92.1

-76.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 PKR 191

$3.70 MX$62.6

-81.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PKR 459

$5.98 MX$101

-72.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PKR 365

$1.55 MX$26.26

-14.84%

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

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

$22.3K MX$377.4K

141.61%

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

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

$25.9K MX$438.7K

-3.26%

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

$102 PKR 28.3K

$89.1 MX$1,507

14.55%

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

$5.83 PKR 1,618

$25.04 MX$423

-76.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.34 PKR 4,534

$31.50 MX$532

-48.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.09 PKR 8,071

$67.8 MX$1,146

-57.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.93 PKR 2,478

$28.92 MX$489

-69.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.01 PKR 1,390

$5.05 MX$85.4

-0.79%

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

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

$225 MX$3,803

-66.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$4,222 MX$71.4K

20.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.55 PKR 6,532

$47.44 MX$802

-50.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.68 PKR 9,066

$44.98 MX$760

-27.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

$82.0 MX$1,386

1.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

$92.1 MX$1,557

-57.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$1,069 MX$18.1K

-74.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 PKR 40.0K

$405 MX$6,852

-64.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 PKR 160.1K

$1,935 MX$32.7K

-70.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.9K

$1,301 MX$22.0K

-79.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

$3,995 MX$67.5K

-59.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$829 PKR 230.1K

$6,626 MX$112.0K

-87.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$381 PKR 105.8K

$749 MX$12.7K

-49.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.45

14.24%

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

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Islamabad versus $1,069 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 96% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $277 – 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 119%, 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 $884 per month in Islamabad and $1,940 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 170% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $47.00 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 $589, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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.