🙂A single person spends $370 per month in Jhang vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $585 per month in Jhang vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $801 per month in Jhang vs $2,980 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 – Jhang73% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82PKR 506
$11.87MX$204
-84.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.03PKR 3,902
$42.90MX$736
-67.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44PKR 956
$10.65MX$183
-67.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79PKR 775
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80PKR 1,056
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.29PKR 636
$3.45MX$59.2
-33.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 91.1
$1.50MX$25.81
-78.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 64.2
$0.95MX$16.28
-75.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$51.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61MX$79.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.57PKR 159
$1.38MX$23.61
-58.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57PKR 159
$1.85MX$31.70
-69.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17PKR 326
$1.61MX$27.65
-27.33%
Eggs
$1.04PKR 289
$2.59MX$44.51
-59.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.15PKR 1,710
$8.26MX$142
-25.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05PKR 847
$8.37MX$144
-63.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.49PKR 1,247
$10.66MX$183
-57.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 285
$2.63MX$45.12
-60.84%
Banana(1kg)
$0.61PKR 168
$1.49MX$25.53
-59.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 160
$1.92MX$32.94
-69.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.44PKR 123
$2.09MX$35.81
-78.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35PKR 98.6
$1.86MX$31.88
-81.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 134
$2.26MX$38.81
-78.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47PKR 131
$1.06MX$18.23
-55.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
$1.09MX$18.67
-66.97%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.94PKR 262
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55PKR 153
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06PKR 294
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.80PKR 222
$4.15MX$71.2
-80.72%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.39MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.72MX$29.59
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$44.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 53.1
$0.54MX$9.30
-64.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.11PKR 1,977
$26.94MX$462
-73.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69PKR 190
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50PKR 138
$2.51MX$43.09
-80.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.75PKR 487
$3.15MX$54.1
-44.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90PKR 250
$1.27MX$21.88
-29.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5KPKR 4.9M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-42.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KPKR 6.3M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-3.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.1PKR 19.5K
$83.0MX$1,425
-15.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.90PKR 1,084
$22.71MX$390
-82.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.75PKR 2,989
$29.46MX$506
-63.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.30PKR 3,419
$51.0MX$875
-75.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.10PKR 1,695
$18.33MX$315
-66.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51PKR 975
$4.93MX$84.5
-28.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$15.86PKR 4,408
$197MX$3,386
-91.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,214PKR 337.4K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-77.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.18PKR 4,222
$36.90MX$633
-58.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.95PKR 5,826
$39.89MX$685
-47.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6PKR 20.2K
$80.0MX$1,373
-9.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.91PKR 8,315
$89.5MX$1,536
-66.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.4PKR 21.0K
$956MX$16.4K
-92.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.3PKR 14.3K
$477MX$8,189
-89.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$169PKR 46.9K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-89.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108PKR 30.0K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-91.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$891PKR 247.6K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-77.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$492PKR 136.8K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-92.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jhang
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$143PKR 39.7K
$667MX$11.4K
-78.59%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $75.4 in Jhang versus $956 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 367% 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: $89.0 vs $250 – 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 244%, 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 $554 per month in Jhang and $1,906 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 $370 in Jhang and $1,271 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 279% 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 $370, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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.