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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $642 in Algiers versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,053 in Algiers versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,464 in Algiers versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Algiers costs roughly 49% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Algiers 52% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 DZD 419

$11.87 MX$204

-73.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 DZD 3,199

$42.90 MX$736

-43.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 DZD 609

$10.65 MX$183

-56.81%

Cappuccino

$1.02 DZD 135

$3.45 MX$59.2

-70.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 DZD 74.3

$1.50 MX$25.81

-62.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 DZD 27.83

$0.95 MX$16.28

-77.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 DZD 251

$3.03 MX$51.9

-37.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 DZD 308

$4.61 MX$79.1

-49.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 DZD 134

$1.38 MX$23.61

-26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 DZD 20.57

$1.85 MX$31.70

-91.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 DZD 242

$1.61 MX$27.65

13.04%

Eggs

$1.88 DZD 249

$2.59 MX$44.51

-27.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 DZD 1,198

$8.26 MX$142

9.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 DZD 721

$8.37 MX$144

-35.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.66 DZD 2,208

$10.66 MX$183

56.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 DZD 405

$2.63 MX$45.12

15.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 DZD 372

$1.49 MX$25.53

87.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 DZD 228

$1.92 MX$32.94

-10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 DZD 113

$2.09 MX$35.81

-58.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 DZD 85.9

$1.86 MX$31.88

-65.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 DZD 66.3

$2.26 MX$38.81

-77.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 DZD 96.0

$1.06 MX$18.23

-32.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 39.92

$1.09 MX$18.67

-72.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 DZD 363

$4.15 MX$71.2

-33.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.97 DZD 924

$10.39 MX$178

-32.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 DZD 170

$1.72 MX$29.59

-25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 DZD 273

$2.61 MX$44.85

-21.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 DZD 44.01

$0.54 MX$9.30

-38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.43 DZD 1,515

$26.94 MX$462

-57.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 DZD 93.7

$3.13 MX$53.7

-77.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 DZD 48.65

$2.51 MX$43.09

-85.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.71 DZD 757

$3.15 MX$54.1

81.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 DZD 48.57

$1.27 MX$21.88

-70.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K DZD 4.8M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

18.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.3K DZD 4.5M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

45.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.89 DZD 5,419

$83.0 MX$1,425

-50.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.44 DZD 1,251

$22.71 MX$390

-58.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.72 DZD 2,348

$29.46 MX$506

-39.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.17 DZD 3,336

$51.0 MX$875

-50.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.53 DZD 2,986

$18.33 MX$315

22.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.01 DZD 796

$4.93 MX$84.5

21.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$94.8 DZD 12.6K

$197 MX$3,386

-51.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,578 DZD 474.3K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-32.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 DZD 4,890

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.06 DZD 5,973

$39.89 MX$685

12.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 DZD 9,867

$80.0 MX$1,373

-6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.6 DZD 10.0K

$89.5 MX$1,536

-15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 DZD 29.5K

$956 MX$16.4K

-76.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 DZD 19.9K

$477 MX$8,189

-68.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 DZD 58.3K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-73.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 DZD 35.2K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-78.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,584 DZD 342.4K

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-34.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,410 DZD 186.9K

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-78.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 DZD 45.1K

$667 MX$11.4K

-49.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.42

11.42

-52.54%

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

Last update for Algiers: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Algiers and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 96% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Algiers vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $250 per month, with Algiers cheaper across the board.

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

Algiers vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 96% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Algiers versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $642 per month in Algiers versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $642 in Algiers versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Algiers and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.