😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $420 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $617 in Quetta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $814 in Quetta, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 202% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Quetta69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$3.70PKR 1,026
213.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$10.78PKR 2,987
337.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$4.53PKR 1,255
162.25%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.81PKR 502
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.27PKR 1,460
-
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.59PKR 442
150.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.39PKR 107
266.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.20PKR 54.4
310.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.69PKR 192
143.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.56PKR 155
292.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.23PKR 341
39.02%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.22PKR 337
124.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$4.93PKR 1,366
94.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$2.83PKR 785
218.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$5.12PKR 1,419
150.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$0.93PKR 258
210.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.57PKR 159
163.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.69PKR 190
211.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.55PKR 153
310.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.30PKR 82.0
560.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.56PKR 156
255.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.43PKR 118
186.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.39PKR 108
207.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.75PKR 485
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.08PKR 300
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.84PKR 788
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$2.09PKR 579
117.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.13PKR 36.35
361.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$10.27PKR 2,845
180.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$1.04PKR 288
418.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.43PKR 120
767.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$1.78PKR 493
224.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.07PKR 296
43.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
-6.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$24.2KPKR 6.7M
7.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$103PKR 28.5K
-11.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$8.11PKR 2,246
210.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$16.41PKR 4,547
90.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$5.78PKR 1,602
1062.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$3.33PKR 923
45.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$34.78PKR 9,635
542.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$995PKR 275.5K
325.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$8.08PKR 2,237
482.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$22.81PKR 6,318
94.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$70.8PKR 19.6K
13.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$34.10PKR 9,446
171.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$71.4PKR 19.8K
1388.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$49.66PKR 13.8K
685.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$165PKR 45.8K
1199.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$99.5PKR 27.6K
1178.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$376PKR 104.3K
963.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$219PKR 60.6K
2872.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$274PKR 75.9K
176.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
12.88
-11.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $71.4 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 177% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $89.0 – 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 202%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $630 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $420 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 180% 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 $420, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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