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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $514 in Daska, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $794 in Daska, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,073 in Daska, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 146% more than Daska, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Daska are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Daska 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$3.63 PKR 1,006
219.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$811
$23.04 PKR 6,380
104.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$5.46 PKR 1,512
117.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.65 PKR 1,011
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.69 PKR 1,853
-
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.5
$2.63 PKR 730
51.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.57
$0.33 PKR 90.8
333.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.20
$0.23 PKR 63.7
256.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.85
$0.92 PKR 254
82.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.83
$0.79 PKR 218
178.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.41
$1.29 PKR 357
32.56%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.20
$1.27 PKR 352
115.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$6.02 PKR 1,667
59.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$3.17 PKR 877
184.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$5.37 PKR 1,488
138.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.74
$1.25 PKR 347
131.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.78
$0.84 PKR 233
78.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.98
$1.02 PKR 283
110.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.91
$0.52 PKR 145
334.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.10
$0.26 PKR 71.6
661.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.26
$0.33 PKR 90.5
503.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.25
$0.28 PKR 76.9
339.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.60
$0.39 PKR 109
207.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.75 PKR 485
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.22 PKR 338
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.69 PKR 746
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.3
$2.39 PKR 661
90.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.88
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.60
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.34
$0.20 PKR 55.0
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$496
$10.09 PKR 2,794
185.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.8
$1.28 PKR 356
321.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.2
$0.74 PKR 206
404.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.3
$1.59 PKR 441
262.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.45
$1.31 PKR 362
17.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.3K
$21.4K PKR 5.9M
5.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$448.7K
$24.5K PKR 6.8M
6.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,573
$101 PKR 28.0K
-9.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$434
$5.81 PKR 1,608
333.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$538
$15.81 PKR 4,380
97.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,157
$15.10 PKR 4,184
345.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.7
$4.29 PKR 1,189
13.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,851
$75.6 PKR 20.9K
195.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.8K
$995 PKR 275.5K
325.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$811
$24.93 PKR 6,905
88.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$763
$35.00 PKR 9,693
26.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,379
$96.5 PKR 26.7K
-16.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,596
$41.10 PKR 11.4K
125.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$127 PKR 35.1K
738.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,719
$76.5 PKR 21.2K
410.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.0K
$255 PKR 70.5K
744.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$150 PKR 41.4K
750.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.9K
$907 PKR 251.3K
341.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.0K
$514 PKR 142.5K
1164.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Daska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
13.08
-12.46%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Daska: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $127 in Daska. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Daska. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $103 – making Daska 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
Playa del Carmen vs Daska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Daska?
Playa del Carmen costs about 146% more than Daska, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Daska?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $772 in Daska. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Daska?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daska, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Daska?
Groceries cost about 169% 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.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Daska?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $23.00 in Daska. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Daska?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Daska, where all-in costs run around $514, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Daska it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Daska?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Daska costs $514 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Daska?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Daska?
If budget matters most, go with Daska. 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.

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