🙂A single person spends $368 per month in Jhang vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $584 per month in Jhang vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $800 per month in Jhang vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Jhang is about 71% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jhang and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jhang72% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74PKR 486
$11.94MX$209
-85.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.28PKR 3,981
$42.75MX$748
-66.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48PKR 969
$10.59MX$185
-67.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78PKR 776
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72PKR 1,038
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.30PKR 640
$3.62MX$63.4
-36.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 91.1
$1.47MX$25.69
-77.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.94MX$16.51
-75.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09MX$54.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46MX$78.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.58PKR 161
$1.43MX$24.94
-59.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62PKR 172
$1.88MX$32.97
-67.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22PKR 340
$1.63MX$28.50
-25.15%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 301
$2.64MX$46.26
-59.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.89PKR 1,641
$8.21MX$144
-28.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08PKR 858
$8.29MX$145
-62.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.59PKR 1,279
$11.10MX$194
-58.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 286
$2.65MX$46.40
-61.13%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.50MX$26.26
-60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.99MX$34.79
-69.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.45PKR 125
$2.08MX$36.33
-78.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 97.8
$1.79MX$31.29
-80.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$2.18MX$38.09
-77.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48PKR 133
$1.08MX$18.84
-55.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.04MX$18.15
-65.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.70PKR 195
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51PKR 141
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12PKR 312
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.83PKR 231
$3.97MX$69.5
-79.09%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.20MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.22
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50MX$43.71
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17PKR 48.20
$0.52MX$9.07
-67.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17PKR 1,997
$26.97MX$472
-73.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 193
$3.14MX$55.0
-78.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 147
$2.40MX$42.04
-77.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.76PKR 490
$3.09MX$54.0
-43.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82PKR 229
$1.27MX$22.28
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3KPKR 4.8M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-43.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KPKR 6.4M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
-2.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9PKR 19.8K
$82.0MX$1,435
-13.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.99PKR 1,112
$22.45MX$393
-82.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.42PKR 2,904
$29.66MX$519
-64.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.36PKR 3,445
$51.9MX$908
-76.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99PKR 1,670
$18.67MX$327
-67.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65PKR 1,016
$4.97MX$87.0
-26.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$15.82PKR 4,409
$198MX$3,462
-92.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,230PKR 342.9K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-76.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.43PKR 4,302
$36.34MX$636
-57.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.52PKR 6,000
$40.05MX$701
-46.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0PKR 20.6K
$79.9MX$1,398
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.07PKR 8,383
$88.9MX$1,555
-66.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.0PKR 21.2K
$963MX$16.9K
-92.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.8PKR 14.7K
$465MX$8,133
-88.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167PKR 46.5K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-89.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107PKR 29.8K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-91.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$798PKR 222.5K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-79.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$581PKR 161.9K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-91.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$144PKR 40.1K
$720MX$12.6K
-80.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
11.42
57.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jhang: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.0 in Jhang 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 400% 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 Jhang versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $90.0 vs $251 – making Jhang 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
Jhang vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Jhang?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 249%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $553 per month in Jhang and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jhang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Jhang vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $368 in Jhang and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 276% less in Jhang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jhang or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jhang, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Jhang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jhang or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jhang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jhang. 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.