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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $385 in Gilgit, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $581 in Gilgit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $778 in Gilgit, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 228% more than Gilgit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Gilgit are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Gilgit 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$1.78 PKR 495

558.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$10.62 PKR 2,948

294.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$4.13 PKR 1,146

154.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 PKR 500

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$1.51 PKR 418

137.75%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.34 PKR 95.6

344.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.23 PKR 63.9

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$0.77 PKR 215

81.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.60 PKR 167

213.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.20 PKR 333

30.00%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.31 PKR 363

99.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$3.95 PKR 1,097

110.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$3.02 PKR 837

176.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$3.74 PKR 1,037

190.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$0.52 PKR 144

421.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.51 PKR 142

196.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.65 PKR 181

187.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$0.50 PKR 140

338.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.35 PKR 96.3

431.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.64 PKR 178

248.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.33 PKR 92.8

224.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.47 PKR 132

131.91%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.43 PKR 397

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PKR 254

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$1.97 PKR 547

112.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.20 PKR 55.5

170.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$7.24 PKR 2,008

261.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.90 PKR 250

242.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.43 PKR 119

458.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$1.82 PKR 504

71.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.90 PKR 248

45.56%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$21.3K PKR 5.9M

40.08%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$22.5K PKR 6.2M

3.64%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$101 PKR 28.0K

-19.51%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$1.89 PKR 526

1093.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$13.94 PKR 3,870

115.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$12.50 PKR 3,468

323.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$6.10 PKR 1,693

201.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$3.62 PKR 1,005

35.91%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$13.89 PKR 3,855

1345.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$1,124 PKR 311.9K

360.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$15.08 PKR 4,185

138.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$22.07 PKR 6,126

81.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$69.2 PKR 19.2K

15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$28.80 PKR 7,993

200.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

1205.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$52.6 PKR 14.6K

793.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$167 PKR 46.3K

890.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$107 PKR 29.8K

1020.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$892 PKR 247.5K

343.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$480 PKR 133.3K

1275.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$179 PKR 49.8K

277.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-39.89%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gilgit: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $74.9 in Gilgit. 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 277% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Gilgit. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $82.0 – making Gilgit 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 Gilgit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 228% more than Gilgit, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $577 in Gilgit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gilgit, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 207% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $11.00 in Gilgit. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Gilgit, where all-in costs run around $385, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Gilgit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gilgit costs $385 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Gilgit. 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.