🙂A single person spends $346 per month in Quetta vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $537 per month in Quetta vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $728 per month in Quetta vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Quetta is about 73% 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
$3.52PKR 977
$11.72MX$203
-69.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.63PKR 2,950
$41.89MX$726
-74.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.38PKR 1,216
$10.51MX$182
-58.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72PKR 478
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55PKR 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70PKR 471
$3.59MX$62.1
-52.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 117
$1.51MX$26.14
-72.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.4
$0.92MX$15.86
-78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.96MX$51.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.41MX$76.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 206
$1.40MX$24.19
-47.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46PKR 128
$1.88MX$32.65
-75.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03PKR 285
$1.56MX$27.01
-33.97%
Eggs
$1.12PKR 310
$2.61MX$45.21
-57.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.92PKR 1,644
$8.32MX$144
-28.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58PKR 716
$8.35MX$145
-69.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.12PKR 1,143
$10.86MX$188
-62.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.04PKR 289
$2.71MX$47.00
-61.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55PKR 154
$1.51MX$26.08
-63.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 157
$1.87MX$32.46
-69.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48PKR 133
$2.19MX$37.95
-78.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 87.2
$1.86MX$32.19
-83.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48PKR 132
$2.23MX$38.65
-78.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.5
$1.07MX$18.51
-67.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 90.1
$1.09MX$18.82
-70.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.45PKR 402
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 93.1
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09PKR 581
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69PKR 192
$4.19MX$72.6
-83.53%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.43MX$181
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66MX$28.72
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$45.26
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.93
$0.54MX$9.39
-70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.23PKR 1,453
$26.16MX$453
-80.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.36PKR 101
$3.08MX$53.3
-88.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62PKR 171
$2.40MX$41.67
-74.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73PKR 481
$3.13MX$54.2
-44.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97PKR 268
$1.31MX$22.72
-25.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KPKR 6.0M
$29.8KMX$516.5K
-27.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.1KPKR 3.4M
$23.3KMX$404.1K
-47.93%
🧾 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
$81.3MX$1,408
-35.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41PKR 1,778
$22.56MX$391
-71.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.32PKR 3,975
$30.05MX$521
-52.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$4.96PKR 1,378
$52.9MX$917
-90.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76PKR 1,600
$18.39MX$319
-68.68%
Cinema Ticket
$2.90PKR 805
$4.92MX$85.3
-41.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.09PKR 9,461
$201MX$3,480
-83.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$417PKR 115.7K
$5,175MX$89.7K
-91.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$6.98PKR 1,937
$35.92MX$622
-80.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.24PKR 2,010
$40.13MX$695
-81.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1PKR 24.2K
$79.7MX$1,381
9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.59PKR 8,213
$86.5MX$1,498
-65.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$69.8PKR 19.4K
$978MX$16.9K
-92.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.30PKR 13.7K
$470MX$8,153
-89.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$159PKR 44.1K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-90.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.5PKR 26.8K
$1,203MX$20.9K
-91.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$376PKR 104.2K
$3,953MX$68.5K
-90.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$214PKR 59.3K
$6,607MX$114.5K
-96.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$271PKR 75.3K
$677MX$11.7K
-59.92%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $69.8 in Quetta versus $978 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 150% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $84.0 vs $252 – 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 264%, 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 $519 per month in Quetta and $1,890 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $346 in Quetta and $1,260 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 400% 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 Quetta or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quetta, where all-in costs run around $346, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.