Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Quetta Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Quetta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $348 in Quetta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $548 in Quetta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $747 in Quetta, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 270% more than Quetta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Quetta are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Quetta 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$3.45 PKR 962
246.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$10.48 PKR 2,922
307.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$4.53 PKR 1,264
133.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.81 PKR 503
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.55 PKR 433
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$1.66 PKR 463
118.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.46 PKR 128
219.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.20 PKR 55.7
370.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.68 PKR 190
110.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.44 PKR 122
327.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.03 PKR 288
58.25%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.13 PKR 314
133.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$6.18 PKR 1,723
32.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$2.59 PKR 721
220.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$4.21 PKR 1,174
163.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$1.03 PKR 287
157.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$0.52 PKR 146
188.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$0.56 PKR 156
255.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.51 PKR 143
307.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.31 PKR 87.0
477.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.50 PKR 140
336.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.35 PKR 98.1
208.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.32 PKR 90.4
225.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.45 PKR 403
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.34 PKR 94.1
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.10 PKR 585
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$0.69 PKR 193
475.36%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.18 PKR 50.3
188.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$5.42 PKR 1,512
397.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.37 PKR 102
748.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.65 PKR 182
269.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$1.82 PKR 507
69.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$0.96 PKR 268
32.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$21.1K PKR 5.9M
46.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$12.4K PKR 3.5M
87.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$53.8 PKR 15.0K
52.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$6.39 PKR 1,781
251.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$14.35 PKR 4,001
106.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$4.99 PKR 1,390
939.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$6.00 PKR 1,673
211.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$2.80 PKR 780
77.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$34.87 PKR 9,721
467.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$426 PKR 118.6K
1139.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$7.22 PKR 2,013
403.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$7.20 PKR 2,007
456.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$87.5 PKR 24.4K
-8.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$29.40 PKR 8,196
202.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$71.0 PKR 19.8K
1256.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$48.89 PKR 13.6K
850.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$160 PKR 44.5K
900.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$98.4 PKR 27.4K
1128.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$384 PKR 107.0K
927.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$221 PKR 61.6K
2815.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Quetta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$216 PKR 60.2K
233.58%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $71.0 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 234% 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 $10.00 in Quetta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 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 270%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $522 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $348 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 398% 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 $348, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.

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