😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $352 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $550 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $748 in Quetta, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 261% 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
$11.87MX$204
$3.45PKR 960
244.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$10.69PKR 2,972
301.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$4.40PKR 1,223
142.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80PKR 500
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57PKR 435
-
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.62PKR 449
112.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.42PKR 118
257.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.22PKR 61.2
331.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.74PKR 207
86.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.46PKR 129
302.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.07PKR 298
50.47%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.08PKR 299
139.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$5.94PKR 1,652
39.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$2.49PKR 691
236.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$4.24PKR 1,178
151.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.07PKR 298
145.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$0.56PKR 155
166.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$0.57PKR 158
236.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.52PKR 145
301.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.29PKR 80.6
541.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.50PKR 139
352.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.35PKR 98.2
202.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.30PKR 83.3
263.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.42PKR 395
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.36PKR 101
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15PKR 598
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$0.72PKR 201
476.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.18PKR 49.40
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$5.36PKR 1,491
402.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.33PKR 92.5
848.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.65PKR 180
286.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$1.72PKR 479
83.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.96PKR 266
32.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$21.6KPKR 6.0M
40.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$12.3KPKR 3.4M
92.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$52.6PKR 14.6K
57.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$6.38PKR 1,774
255.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$13.98PKR 3,887
110.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$5.09PKR 1,415
901.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$5.81PKR 1,614
215.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$2.89PKR 804
70.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$35.09PKR 9,756
462.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$424PKR 117.8K
1146.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$7.22PKR 2,006
411.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$6.98PKR 1,941
471.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$89.7PKR 24.9K
-10.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$29.19PKR 8,116
206.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$69.9PKR 19.4K
1268.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$50.4PKR 14.0K
846.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$157PKR 43.7K
946.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$95.5PKR 26.6K
1182.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$381PKR 106.0K
928.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$220PKR 61.3K
2829.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$213PKR 59.3K
212.96%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $69.9 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 213% 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 $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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 261%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $527 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 vs Quetta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $352 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 403% less in Quetta. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Quetta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $352, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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