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 $534 per month in Islamabad vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $847 per month in Islamabad vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,160 per month in Islamabad vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Islamabad is about 57% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Islamabad and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 60% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 PKR 791

$11.99 MX$209

-76.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.26 PKR 3,960

$41.78 MX$728

-65.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,511

$10.75 MX$187

-49.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$1.97 PKR 547

$3.50 MX$60.9

-43.71%

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

$0.40 PKR 110

$1.45 MX$25.22

-72.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 PKR 67.0

$0.88 MX$15.41

-72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 PKR 268

$1.43 MX$24.94

-32.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 PKR 183

$1.84 MX$31.99

-64.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PKR 355

$1.57 MX$27.31

-18.47%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 334

$2.51 MX$43.74

-52.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,687

$8.28 MX$144

-26.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 PKR 937

$8.43 MX$147

-60.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.35 PKR 1,209

$10.68 MX$186

-59.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 PKR 289

$2.61 MX$45.43

-60.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 PKR 234

$1.44 MX$25.04

-41.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.96 MX$34.16

-53.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$2.09 MX$36.47

-73.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$1.85 MX$32.24

-77.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 158

$2.17 MX$37.74

-73.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PKR 85.4

$1.03 MX$17.96

-69.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 PKR 113

$1.07 MX$18.70

-61.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 595

$4.10 MX$71.4

-47.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 PKR 46.51

$0.51 MX$8.87

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.22 PKR 2,005

$26.04 MX$453

-72.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 PKR 236

$3.23 MX$56.3

-73.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$2.41 MX$41.88

-82.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PKR 775

$3.23 MX$56.2

-13.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 PKR 271

$1.32 MX$23.00

-25.76%

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

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

$29.7K MX$517.1K

-29.62%

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

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

$23.7K MX$412.0K

9.62%

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

$114 PKR 31.6K

$82.0 MX$1,428

38.64%

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

$5.41 PKR 1,501

$22.95 MX$400

-76.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 PKR 5,190

$30.11 MX$524

-37.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.13 PKR 6,144

$52.0 MX$905

-57.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 PKR 1,698

$18.53 MX$323

-66.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.14 PKR 1,150

$4.98 MX$86.6

-16.87%

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

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

$197 MX$3,438

-69.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

-48.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.08 PKR 5,854

$35.60 MX$620

-40.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.64 PKR 7,674

$40.33 MX$702

-31.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

$78.8 MX$1,371

11.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

$88.9 MX$1,549

-53.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PKR 55.3K

$947 MX$16.5K

-78.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 PKR 30.5K

$474 MX$8,254

-76.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$505 PKR 140.1K

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 PKR 83.0K

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-75.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-62.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 PKR 179.8K

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-89.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$385 PKR 106.9K

$654 MX$11.4K

-41.12%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Islamabad versus $947 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 70% 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: $100 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 135%, 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 $801 per month in Islamabad and $1,884 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 150% 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 $534, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.