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: $666 in Algiers versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,054 in Algiers versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,441 in Algiers versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Algiers costs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Algiers 50% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 DZD 425

$11.72 MX$204

-72.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.67 DZD 3,132

$41.89 MX$731

-43.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.76 DZD 631

$10.51 MX$183

-54.71%

Cappuccino

$0.99 DZD 131

$3.59 MX$62.5

-72.42%

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

$0.62 DZD 81.9

$1.51 MX$26.31

-58.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 DZD 30.49

$0.92 MX$15.96

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 DZD 263

$2.96 MX$51.6

-32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 DZD 312

$4.41 MX$76.9

-46.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 DZD 138

$1.40 MX$24.35

-25.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.13 DZD 17.75

$1.88 MX$32.87

-93.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 DZD 234

$1.56 MX$27.19

12.82%

Eggs

$1.85 DZD 245

$2.61 MX$45.50

-29.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 DZD 1,184

$8.32 MX$145

7.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 DZD 723

$8.35 MX$146

-34.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.69 DZD 2,209

$10.86 MX$189

53.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 DZD 424

$2.71 MX$47.31

18.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 DZD 376

$1.51 MX$26.25

88.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 DZD 235

$1.87 MX$32.67

-5.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 DZD 112

$2.19 MX$38.19

-61.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 DZD 78.8

$1.86 MX$32.40

-67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 DZD 65.5

$2.23 MX$38.90

-78.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 DZD 88.7

$1.07 MX$18.63

-37.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 36.89

$1.09 MX$18.94

-74.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 DZD 369

$4.19 MX$73.0

-33.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 DZD 897

$10.43 MX$182

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 DZD 173

$1.66 MX$28.91

-21.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 DZD 279

$2.61 MX$45.56

-19.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 DZD 44.42

$0.54 MX$9.45

-37.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 DZD 1,556

$26.16 MX$456

-55.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 DZD 92.6

$3.08 MX$53.7

-77.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 DZD 44.45

$2.40 MX$41.94

-85.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 DZD 719

$3.13 MX$54.5

73.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 DZD 47.76

$1.31 MX$22.87

-72.52%

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

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

22.04%

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

$33.5K DZD 4.4M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

43.62%

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

$40.96 DZD 5,422

$81.3 MX$1,418

-49.61%

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

$9.37 DZD 1,241

$22.56 MX$393

-58.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.07 DZD 2,392

$30.05 MX$524

-39.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.13 DZD 3,326

$52.9 MX$923

-52.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.42 DZD 2,968

$18.39 MX$321

21.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 DZD 819

$4.92 MX$85.8

25.81%

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

$93.1 DZD 12.3K

$201 MX$3,502

-53.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,574 DZD 473.0K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-30.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.20 DZD 4,792

$35.92 MX$627

0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.40 DZD 6,008

$40.13 MX$700

13.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 DZD 9,873

$79.7 MX$1,390

-6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 DZD 10.4K

$86.5 MX$1,508

-9.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 DZD 30.0K

$978 MX$17.1K

-76.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 DZD 19.9K

$470 MX$8,206

-68.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 DZD 58.9K

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-73.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 DZD 34.9K

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-78.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,554 DZD 338.0K

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-35.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,377 DZD 182.2K

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-79.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 DZD 45.0K

$677 MX$11.8K

-49.77%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Algiers and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 99% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $252 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 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 99% 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: $227 in Algiers versus $978 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $666 per month in Algiers versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $666 in Algiers versus $1,260 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 89% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.