😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $346 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $537 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $728 in Quetta, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 264% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Quetta74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$3.52PKR 977
232.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$726
$10.63PKR 2,950
294.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.38PKR 1,216
139.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72PKR 478
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55PKR 431
-
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.1
$1.70PKR 471
111.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.14
$0.42PKR 117
259.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.86
$0.20PKR 55.4
360.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.4
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.19
$0.74PKR 206
89.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.65
$0.46PKR 128
308.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.01
$1.03PKR 285
51.46%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.21
$1.12PKR 310
133.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$5.92PKR 1,644
40.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$2.58PKR 716
223.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$4.12PKR 1,143
163.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.00
$1.04PKR 289
160.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.08
$0.55PKR 154
174.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.46
$0.57PKR 157
228.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.95
$0.48PKR 133
356.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.19
$0.31PKR 87.2
500.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.65
$0.48PKR 132
364.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.51
$0.35PKR 98.5
205.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.82
$0.32PKR 90.1
240.63%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.45PKR 402
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.34PKR 93.1
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.09PKR 581
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$0.69PKR 192
507.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$181
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.72
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.26
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.39
$0.16PKR 43.93
237.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$5.23PKR 1,453
400.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.36PKR 101
755.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.67
$0.62PKR 171
287.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.2
$1.73PKR 481
80.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.72
$0.97PKR 268
35.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$516.5K
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
38.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$404.1K
$12.1KPKR 3.4M
92.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,408
$52.6PKR 14.6K
54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$391
$6.41PKR 1,778
251.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$521
$14.32PKR 3,975
109.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$917
$4.96PKR 1,378
966.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$5.76PKR 1,600
219.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.3
$2.90PKR 805
69.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$34.09PKR 9,461
489.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.7K
$417PKR 115.7K
1141.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$6.98PKR 1,937
414.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$695
$7.24PKR 2,010
454.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,381
$87.1PKR 24.2K
-8.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,498
$29.59PKR 8,213
192.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$69.8PKR 19.4K
1300.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,153
$49.30PKR 13.7K
854.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$159PKR 44.1K
939.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.9K
$96.5PKR 26.8K
1147.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.5K
$376PKR 104.2K
952.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.5K
$214PKR 59.3K
2990.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$271PKR 75.3K
149.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12
-4.83%
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 Quetta: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $69.8 in Quetta. 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 150% 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 Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $84.0 – making Quetta 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 Quetta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quetta cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 264%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $519 in Quetta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Quetta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $346 in Quetta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 400% less in Quetta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Quetta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Quetta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Quetta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quetta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quetta. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared