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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $420 per month in Quetta vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Quetta vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $814 per month in Quetta vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Quetta is about 67% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quetta and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 69% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70 PKR 1,026
$11.60 MX$200
-68.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.78 PKR 2,987
$47.11 MX$812
-77.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 PKR 1,255
$11.88 MX$205
-61.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 PKR 502
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 PKR 1,460
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.59 PKR 442
$3.98 MX$68.6
-60.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 107
$1.43 MX$24.60
-72.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 PKR 54.4
$0.82 MX$14.22
-75.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.19 MX$55.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79 MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.69 PKR 192
$1.68 MX$28.89
-58.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 155
$2.20 MX$37.88
-74.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 PKR 341
$1.71 MX$29.45
-28.07%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 337
$2.74 MX$47.26
-55.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 PKR 1,366
$9.58 MX$165
-48.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 PKR 785
$9.01 MX$155
-68.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.12 PKR 1,419
$12.81 MX$221
-60.03%
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 PKR 258
$2.89 MX$49.81
-67.82%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 PKR 159
$1.50 MX$25.81
-62.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 PKR 190
$2.15 MX$37.03
-67.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 PKR 153
$2.26 MX$38.96
-75.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.30 PKR 82.0
$1.98 MX$34.15
-84.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 PKR 156
$1.99 MX$34.30
-71.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 PKR 118
$1.23 MX$21.28
-65.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 108
$1.20 MX$20.63
-67.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.75 PKR 485
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 PKR 300
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 PKR 788
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 PKR 579
$4.55 MX$78.5
-54.07%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.37 MX$179
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.62 MX$27.91
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88 MX$49.67
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 PKR 36.35
$0.60 MX$10.35
-78.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.27 PKR 2,845
$28.80 MX$497
-64.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 PKR 288
$5.39 MX$92.9
-80.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 PKR 120
$3.73 MX$64.3
-88.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 PKR 493
$5.77 MX$99.5
-69.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 PKR 296
$1.54 MX$26.48
-30.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
$22.5K MX$388.8K
6.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K PKR 6.7M
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-6.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.5K
$91.4 MX$1,576
12.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.11 PKR 2,246
$25.20 MX$435
-67.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.41 PKR 4,547
$31.24 MX$539
-47.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.78 PKR 1,602
$67.2 MX$1,159
-91.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 PKR 923
$4.86 MX$83.8
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$34.78 PKR 9,635
$224 MX$3,856
-84.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$995 PKR 275.5K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-76.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.08 PKR 2,237
$47.10 MX$812
-82.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.81 PKR 6,318
$44.29 MX$764
-48.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 PKR 19.6K
$80.1 MX$1,381
-11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.10 PKR 9,446
$92.7 MX$1,598
-63.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$71.4 PKR 19.8K
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-93.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$49.66 PKR 13.8K
$390 MX$6,728
-87.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$165 PKR 45.8K
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-92.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.5 PKR 27.6K
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-92.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$376 PKR 104.3K
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-90.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$219 PKR 60.6K
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-96.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$274 PKR 75.9K
$758 MX$13.1K
-63.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.88
11.45
12.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.4 in Quetta versus $1,063 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 177% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $276 – 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 202%, 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 $630 per month in Quetta and $1,899 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 $420 in Quetta and $1,266 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 180% 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 $420, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.

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