🙂A single person spends $509 per month in Sheikhupura vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $795 per month in Sheikhupura vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,081 per month in Sheikhupura vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Sheikhupura is about 60% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sheikhupura and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sheikhupura63% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66PKR 1,013
$11.60MX$200
-68.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.26PKR 6,443
$47.11MX$811
-50.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.51PKR 1,526
$11.88MX$205
-53.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51PKR 971
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76PKR 1,873
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.53PKR 701
$3.98MX$68.5
-36.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PKR 90.3
$1.43MX$24.57
-76.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21PKR 57.9
$0.82MX$14.20
-74.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.19MX$54.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.79MX$117
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95PKR 262
$1.68MX$28.85
-43.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80PKR 222
$2.20MX$37.83
-63.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25PKR 348
$1.71MX$29.41
-26.90%
Eggs
$1.27PKR 351
$2.74MX$47.20
-53.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03PKR 1,670
$9.58MX$165
-37.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19PKR 884
$9.01MX$155
-64.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.23PKR 1,448
$12.81MX$221
-59.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27PKR 351
$2.89MX$49.74
-56.06%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86PKR 238
$1.50MX$25.78
-42.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08PKR 299
$2.15MX$36.98
-49.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53PKR 147
$2.26MX$38.91
-76.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.26PKR 71.9
$1.98MX$34.10
-86.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33PKR 90.3
$1.99MX$34.26
-83.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28PKR 76.6
$1.23MX$21.25
-77.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43PKR 118
$1.20MX$20.60
-64.17%
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)
$2.40PKR 664
$4.55MX$78.3
-47.25%
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
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21PKR 57.0
$0.60MX$10.34
-65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.81PKR 2,441
$28.80MX$496
-69.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24PKR 343
$5.39MX$92.8
-76.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69PKR 190
$3.73MX$64.2
-81.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.65PKR 456
$5.77MX$99.3
-71.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30PKR 360
$1.54MX$26.45
-15.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KPKR 6.1M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
-2.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4KPKR 6.7M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
-6.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104PKR 28.7K
$91.4MX$1,573
13.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.78PKR 1,602
$25.20MX$434
-77.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.94PKR 4,415
$31.24MX$538
-48.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.98PKR 4,148
$67.2MX$1,157
-77.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$501
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.44PKR 1,229
$4.86MX$83.7
-8.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$75.8PKR 21.0K
$224MX$3,851
-66.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$997PKR 276.1K
$4,229MX$72.8K
-76.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.52PKR 6,791
$47.10MX$811
-47.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37PKR 9,797
$44.29MX$763
-20.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1PKR 26.9K
$80.1MX$1,379
21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.46PKR 11.2K
$92.7MX$1,596
-56.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$145PKR 40.1K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-86.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$79.9PKR 22.1K
$390MX$6,719
-79.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258PKR 71.5K
$2,149MX$37.0K
-87.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142PKR 39.3K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-88.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$968PKR 268.1K
$4,001MX$68.9K
-75.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$516PKR 143.1K
$6,502MX$112.0K
-92.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sheikhupura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.08
11.45
14.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sheikhupura: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $145 in Sheikhupura 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Sheikhupura versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $276 – 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
Sheikhupura vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sheikhupura?
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 $763 per month in Sheikhupura 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 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 Sheikhupura and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $509 in Sheikhupura 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 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 Sheikhupura or in Playa del Carmen?
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 Sheikhupura or Playa del Carmen 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.
Sheikhupura vs other spots: cost of living compared