😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $509 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $795 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,081 in Sheikhupura, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 149% more than Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Sheikhupura are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Sheikhupura63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$3.66PKR 1,013
216.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$23.26PKR 6,443
102.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$5.51PKR 1,526
115.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.51PKR 971
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.76PKR 1,873
-
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$2.53PKR 701
57.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$0.33PKR 90.3
333.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.21PKR 57.9
290.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$0.95PKR 262
76.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.80PKR 222
175.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.25PKR 348
36.80%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.27PKR 351
115.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$6.03PKR 1,670
58.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.19PKR 884
182.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$5.23PKR 1,448
144.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.27PKR 351
127.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$0.86PKR 238
74.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.08PKR 299
99.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$0.53PKR 147
326.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.26PKR 71.9
661.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.33PKR 90.3
503.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.28PKR 76.6
339.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.43PKR 118
179.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.79PKR 496
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23PKR 342
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.59PKR 718
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$2.40PKR 664
89.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.21PKR 57.0
185.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$8.81PKR 2,441
226.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$1.24PKR 343
334.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.69PKR 190
440.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$1.65PKR 456
249.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.30PKR 360
18.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$21.9KPKR 6.1M
2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$24.4KPKR 6.7M
7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$104PKR 28.7K
-11.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$5.78PKR 1,602
335.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$15.94PKR 4,415
95.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$14.98PKR 4,148
348.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$4.44PKR 1,229
9.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$75.8PKR 21.0K
194.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$997PKR 276.1K
324.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$24.52PKR 6,791
92.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$35.37PKR 9,797
25.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$97.1PKR 26.9K
-17.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$40.46PKR 11.2K
129.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$145PKR 40.1K
634.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$79.9PKR 22.1K
388.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$258PKR 71.5K
732.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$142PKR 39.3K
797.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$968PKR 268.1K
313.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$516PKR 143.1K
1158.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sheikhupura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
13.08
-12.46%
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 Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $145 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Sheikhupura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $103 – 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 149%, 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 $763 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $509 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 227% 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 $509, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared