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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $373 in Jhang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $585 in Jhang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $797 in Jhang, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 238% more than Jhang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Jhang are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Jhang 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$1.81 PKR 503

547.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$14.17 PKR 3,934

195.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$3.46 PKR 959

203.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 PKR 780

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 PKR 1,007

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.29 PKR 636

56.77%

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

$1.51 MX$26.10

$0.32 PKR 89.9

371.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$0.23 PKR 64.0

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

$0.57 PKR 160

145.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.61 PKR 168

208.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.22 PKR 339

27.87%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$1.08 PKR 300

141.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$5.95 PKR 1,650

39.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$2.97 PKR 824

181.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

$4.50 PKR 1,248

141.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

$1.06 PKR 293

155.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.64 PKR 178

135.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

$0.56 PKR 157

233.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

$0.48 PKR 134

356.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

$0.36 PKR 99.0

416.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

$0.49 PKR 136

355.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

$0.44 PKR 123

143.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$0.36 PKR 100

202.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.06 PKR 294

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 140

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 PKR 306

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$0.78 PKR 217

437.18%

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

$0.21 PKR 56.9

157.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

$7.13 PKR 1,978

266.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

$0.69 PKR 192

346.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

$0.53 PKR 147

352.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

$1.80 PKR 499

73.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

$0.84 PKR 233

55.95%

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

$29.8K MX$515.7K

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

66.04%

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

$23.3K MX$403.5K

$23.3K PKR 6.5M

0.04%

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

$81.3 MX$1,406

$71.2 PKR 19.7K

14.24%

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

$22.56 MX$390

$3.87 PKR 1,073

482.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$10.76 PKR 2,986

179.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

$12.32 PKR 3,419

329.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

$6.08 PKR 1,688

202.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

$3.60 PKR 999

36.67%

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

$201 MX$3,474

$16.18 PKR 4,490

1141.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

$1,250 PKR 347.0K

313.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

$14.94 PKR 4,147

140.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

$21.55 PKR 5,982

86.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

$71.3 PKR 19.8K

11.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

$30.63 PKR 8,501

182.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

$73.7 PKR 20.5K

1226.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

$51.6 PKR 14.3K

811.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

$170 PKR 47.2K

871.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

$106 PKR 29.5K

1033.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

$873 PKR 242.4K

352.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

$485 PKR 134.5K

1263.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$146 PKR 40.6K

362.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-36.56%

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 Jhang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $73.7 in Jhang. 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 362% 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 $14.00 in Jhang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $89.0 – 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

Playa del Carmen vs Jhang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 238%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $560 in Jhang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $373 in Jhang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 267% less in Jhang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jhang, where all-in costs run around $373, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Jhang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.