🙂A single person spends $352 per month in Quetta vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $550 per month in Quetta vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $748 per month in Quetta vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Quetta is about 72% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Quetta and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Quetta74% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 960
$11.87MX$204
-70.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.69PKR 2,972
$42.90MX$736
-75.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.40PKR 1,223
$10.65MX$183
-58.69%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 500
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57PKR 435
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.62PKR 449
$3.45MX$59.2
-53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$1.50MX$25.81
-72.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$0.95MX$16.28
-76.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.03MX$51.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61MX$79.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 207
$1.38MX$23.61
-46.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46PKR 129
$1.85MX$31.70
-75.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$1.61MX$27.65
-33.54%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 299
$2.59MX$44.51
-58.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.94PKR 1,652
$8.26MX$142
-28.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.49PKR 691
$8.37MX$144
-70.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.24PKR 1,178
$10.66MX$183
-60.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$2.63MX$45.12
-59.32%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56PKR 155
$1.49MX$25.53
-62.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$1.92MX$32.94
-70.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$2.09MX$35.81
-75.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.6
$1.86MX$31.88
-84.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$2.26MX$38.81
-77.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$1.06MX$18.23
-66.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.3
$1.09MX$18.67
-72.48%
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)
$0.72PKR 201
$4.15MX$71.2
-82.65%
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
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.40
$0.54MX$9.30
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.36PKR 1,491
$26.94MX$462
-80.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33PKR 92.5
$3.13MX$53.7
-89.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 180
$2.51MX$43.09
-74.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72PKR 479
$3.15MX$54.1
-45.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 266
$1.27MX$21.88
-24.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KPKR 6.0M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-28.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.3KPKR 3.4M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-47.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6PKR 14.6K
$83.0MX$1,425
-36.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.38PKR 1,774
$22.71MX$390
-71.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.98PKR 3,887
$29.46MX$506
-52.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.09PKR 1,415
$51.0MX$875
-90.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81PKR 1,614
$18.33MX$315
-68.30%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89PKR 804
$4.93MX$84.5
-41.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.09PKR 9,756
$197MX$3,386
-82.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$424PKR 117.8K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-91.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,006
$36.90MX$633
-80.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.98PKR 1,941
$39.89MX$685
-82.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7PKR 24.9K
$80.0MX$1,373
12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19PKR 8,116
$89.5MX$1,536
-67.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$69.9PKR 19.4K
$956MX$16.4K
-92.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$50.4PKR 14.0K
$477MX$8,189
-89.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$157PKR 43.7K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-90.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.5PKR 26.6K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-92.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$381PKR 106.0K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-90.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$220PKR 61.3K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-96.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213PKR 59.3K
$667MX$11.4K
-68.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.42
5.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quetta: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $69.9 in Quetta versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $11.00 in Quetta versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $250 – 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
Quetta vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Quetta?
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 $527 per month in Quetta and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Quetta vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $352 in Quetta and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Quetta or Playa del Carmen?
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 Quetta or Playa del Carmen 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.