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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $452 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $670 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $887 in Sheikhupura, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 179% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sheikhupura are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Sheikhupura 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$2.78 PKR 772
321.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$14.03 PKR 3,895
198.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$5.39 PKR 1,497
94.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80 PKR 499
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96 PKR 1,099
-
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$2.05 PKR 568
75.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.42 PKR 118
259.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.22 PKR 60.9
318.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$0.54 PKR 150
159.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$0.54 PKR 151
248.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$1.04 PKR 287
50.00%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$1.21 PKR 337
115.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$6.17 PKR 1,711
34.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$1.75 PKR 487
377.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$2.88 PKR 799
277.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$1.03 PKR 286
163.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$0.77 PKR 214
96.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$0.91 PKR 251
105.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$0.55 PKR 153
298.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$0.42 PKR 116
342.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$0.57 PKR 158
291.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.31 PKR 84.8
245.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.37 PKR 104
194.59%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.42 PKR 393
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.88 PKR 243
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.95 PKR 540
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$2.07 PKR 575
102.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.17 PKR 46.80
217.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$6.99 PKR 1,939
274.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$0.89 PKR 248
246.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.43 PKR 120
458.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$2.87 PKR 798
9.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$0.90 PKR 251
45.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$21.6K PKR 6.0M
37.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$26.2K PKR 7.3M
-11.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$113 PKR 31.5K
-28.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$5.46 PKR 1,516
313.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$18.60 PKR 5,163
61.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$12.62 PKR 3,502
319.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$5.90 PKR 1,638
211.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$4.19 PKR 1,163
17.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$59.8 PKR 16.6K
235.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$1,088 PKR 302.1K
375.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$21.69 PKR 6,021
65.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$27.57 PKR 7,652
45.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$86.9 PKR 24.1K
-8.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$39.70 PKR 11.0K
117.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$75.0 PKR 20.8K
1204.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$51.0 PKR 14.2K
821.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$168 PKR 46.7K
882.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$108 PKR 29.9K
1017.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$859 PKR 238.3K
360.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$531 PKR 147.4K
1144.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
20.2
-43.47%

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 Sheikhupura: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $75.0 in Sheikhupura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $14.00 in Sheikhupura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $80.0 – making Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sheikhupura cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 179%, 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 $678 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura, 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 Sheikhupura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $452 in Sheikhupura. 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 274% less in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sheikhupura, where all-in costs run around $452, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Sheikhupura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sheikhupura more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sheikhupura – 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 Sheikhupura. 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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