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: $598 in Algiers versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Algiers versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,399 in Algiers versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Algiers costs roughly 54% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Algiers 57% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 DZD 469

$11.96 MX$203

-70.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.65 DZD 3,808

$47.38 MX$805

-39.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 DZD 614

$11.75 MX$200

-60.68%

Cappuccino

$1.16 DZD 154

$4.12 MX$70.1

-71.84%

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

$0.63 DZD 83.1

$1.40 MX$23.78

-55.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 40.24

$0.91 MX$15.50

-67.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 DZD 311

$3.21 MX$54.5

-27.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 DZD 310

$7.07 MX$120

-67.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 DZD 121

$1.68 MX$28.49

-45.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 DZD 20.91

$2.15 MX$36.53

-92.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 DZD 160

$1.77 MX$30.14

-32.20%

Eggs

$1.40 DZD 186

$2.82 MX$47.83

-50.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.15 DZD 1,083

$9.20 MX$156

-11.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 DZD 533

$9.23 MX$157

-56.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.75 DZD 1,960

$12.64 MX$215

16.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 DZD 293

$2.95 MX$50.1

-25.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 DZD 379

$1.58 MX$26.83

80.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 DZD 149

$2.22 MX$37.76

-49.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 DZD 127

$2.36 MX$40.15

-59.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 DZD 84.0

$1.99 MX$33.86

-68.34%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 DZD 67.5

$1.98 MX$33.63

-74.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 DZD 111

$1.24 MX$21.07

-32.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 37.28

$1.21 MX$20.58

-76.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 DZD 422

$4.60 MX$78.2

-30.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.06 DZD 938

$10.52 MX$179

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 DZD 177

$1.69 MX$28.74

-21.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 DZD 262

$2.77 MX$47.13

-28.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 DZD 50.9

$0.60 MX$10.24

-36.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.08 DZD 940

$29.70 MX$505

-76.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 DZD 73.3

$5.24 MX$89.0

-89.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 DZD 59.4

$3.65 MX$62.0

-87.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 DZD 756

$5.78 MX$98.3

-1.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 DZD 46.00

$1.54 MX$26.13

-77.27%

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

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

$22.8K MX$387.4K

57.63%

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

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

$25.8K MX$438.5K

39.12%

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

$45.12 DZD 5,996

$90.7 MX$1,540

-50.24%

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

$10.91 DZD 1,450

$25.19 MX$428

-56.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.93 DZD 1,718

$31.75 MX$539

-59.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.24 DZD 3,487

$68.8 MX$1,169

-61.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.34 DZD 3,766

$29.37 MX$499

-3.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 DZD 621

$4.86 MX$82.6

-3.91%

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

$570 DZD 75.7K

$226 MX$3,834

152.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,496 DZD 863.2K

$4,194 MX$71.2K

54.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.79 DZD 4,490

$47.38 MX$805

-28.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.54 DZD 4,723

$43.45 MX$738

-18.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 DZD 9,688

$80.2 MX$1,363

-9.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 DZD 10.9K

$91.4 MX$1,552

-9.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 DZD 22.8K

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-84.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 DZD 17.9K

$409 MX$6,943

-67.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 DZD 61.0K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-76.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 DZD 33.3K

$1,281 MX$21.8K

-80.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,552 DZD 339.2K

$4,046 MX$68.7K

-36.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,408 DZD 187.1K

$6,704 MX$113.9K

-79.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$337 DZD 44.8K

$773 MX$13.1K

-56.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.3

11.45

-53.71%

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

Last update for Algiers: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $171 in Algiers and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 129% 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: $29.00 in Algiers vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $278 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 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 129% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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: $171 in Algiers versus $1,086 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 $29.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $598 per month in Algiers versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $598 in Algiers versus $1,305 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 118% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.