😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $406 in Multan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $615 in Multan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $824 in Multan.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 210% more expensive than in Multan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Multan70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$2.07PKR 574
479.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$8.62PKR 2,393
384.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$5.16PKR 1,432
108.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.75PKR 486
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.22PKR 895
-
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$1.43PKR 397
144.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$0.30PKR 84.3
383.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.20PKR 55.6
340.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$0.59PKR 163
142.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.56PKR 156
228.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$1.05PKR 291
49.52%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$1.03PKR 286
143.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$4.76PKR 1,322
73.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$2.60PKR 721
224.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$3.08PKR 857
246.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$0.99PKR 274
163.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$0.68PKR 188
111.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$0.57PKR 160
243.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$0.49PKR 136
326.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$0.38PKR 105
386.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$0.40PKR 110
442.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$0.60PKR 168
71.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.36PKR 98.7
197.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.81PKR 503
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.57PKR 435
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.83PKR 509
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$1.92PKR 534
113.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$0.19PKR 52.1
168.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$7.17PKR 1,991
263.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$1.04PKR 288
210.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$0.31PKR 85.2
677.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.42PKR 395
127.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$0.99PKR 275
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
33.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$22.5KPKR 6.3M
5.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$105PKR 29.0K
-21.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$4.92PKR 1,365
366.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$13.89PKR 3,857
116.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$18.04PKR 5,008
188.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$12.58PKR 3,494
47.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$2.63PKR 731
89.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$36.34PKR 10.1K
443.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$1,754PKR 487.2K
204.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$16.64PKR 4,622
113.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$27.32PKR 7,586
47.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$70.2PKR 19.5K
12.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$29.67PKR 8,239
199.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$86.9PKR 24.1K
989.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$57.5PKR 16.0K
723.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$175PKR 48.5K
840.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$125PKR 34.8K
866.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Multan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$183PKR 50.8K
257.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
17.43
-34.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Multan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $86.9 in Multan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 258% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $9.00 in Multan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $79.0 per month, with Multan cheaper across the board.
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 Multan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Multan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Multan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 210% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Multan?
Average pay runs 258% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Multan?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $86.9 in Multan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.34 in Multan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Multan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 216% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Multan?
At $406 in Multan versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Multan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Multan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Multan more family-friendly?
For families, Multan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Multan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 210% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared