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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $368 in Jhang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $584 in Jhang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $800 in Jhang, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 249% more than Jhang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Jhang are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Jhang 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$1.74 PKR 486

586.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$14.28 PKR 3,981

199.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$3.48 PKR 969

204.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 PKR 776

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 PKR 1,038

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$2.30 PKR 640

57.39%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$0.33 PKR 91.1

345.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$0.23 PKR 64.2

308.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.58 PKR 161

146.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$0.62 PKR 172

203.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$1.22 PKR 340

33.61%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$1.08 PKR 301

144.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$5.89 PKR 1,641

39.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.08 PKR 858

169.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$4.59 PKR 1,279

141.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$1.03 PKR 286

157.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$0.60 PKR 168

150.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$0.60 PKR 168

231.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$0.45 PKR 125

362.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$0.35 PKR 97.8

411.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$0.48 PKR 133

354.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$0.48 PKR 133

125.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.36 PKR 101

188.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.70 PKR 195

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 PKR 141

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PKR 312

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$0.83 PKR 231

378.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$0.17 PKR 48.20

205.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$7.17 PKR 1,997

276.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$0.69 PKR 193

355.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$0.53 PKR 147

352.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$1.76 PKR 490

75.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$0.82 PKR 229

54.88%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$17.3K PKR 4.8M

78.11%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$22.8K PKR 6.4M

2.11%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$70.9 PKR 19.8K

15.72%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$3.99 PKR 1,112

462.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$10.42 PKR 2,904

184.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$12.36 PKR 3,445

319.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$5.99 PKR 1,670

211.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$3.65 PKR 1,016

36.16%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$15.82 PKR 4,409

1150.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$1,230 PKR 342.9K

328.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$15.43 PKR 4,302

135.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$21.52 PKR 6,000

86.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$74.0 PKR 20.6K

8.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$30.07 PKR 8,383

195.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$76.0 PKR 21.2K

1168.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$52.8 PKR 14.7K

781.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$167 PKR 46.5K

857.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$107 PKR 29.8K

1029.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$798 PKR 222.5K

393.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$581 PKR 161.9K

1010.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$144 PKR 40.1K

400.21%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Jhang: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $76.0 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 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $14.00 in Jhang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $90.0 – 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 249%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $553 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $368 in Jhang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 276% 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 $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.

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.