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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Annaba versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,076 in Annaba versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,493 in Annaba versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Annaba 51% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 DZD 393
$11.99 MX$210
-75.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.44 DZD 4,295
$41.78 MX$733
-22.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 DZD 864
$10.75 MX$189
-39.26%
Cappuccino
$1.47 DZD 195
$3.50 MX$61.3
-58.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 DZD 96.9
$1.45 MX$25.41
-49.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 DZD 35.91
$0.88 MX$15.52
-69.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 DZD 252
$2.95 MX$51.7
-35.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 DZD 320
$4.51 MX$79.1
-46.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 DZD 138
$1.43 MX$25.12
-26.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 DZD 39.79
$1.84 MX$32.23
-83.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 DZD 228
$1.57 MX$27.51
9.55%
Eggs
$2.10 DZD 278
$2.51 MX$44.06
-16.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.19 DZD 820
$8.28 MX$145
-25.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.75 DZD 629
$8.43 MX$148
-43.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.39 DZD 2,700
$10.68 MX$187
90.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 DZD 410
$2.61 MX$45.76
18.77%
Banana (1kg)
$3.54 DZD 468
$1.44 MX$25.22
145.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 DZD 232
$1.96 MX$34.41
-10.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 DZD 97.8
$2.09 MX$36.74
-64.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 DZD 86.9
$1.85 MX$32.47
-64.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 DZD 53.1
$2.17 MX$38.02
-81.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 DZD 66.9
$1.03 MX$18.09
-51.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 DZD 44.29
$1.07 MX$18.84
-69.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.21 DZD 425
$4.10 MX$72.0
-21.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 DZD 1,038
$10.17 MX$178
-22.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 DZD 179
$1.68 MX$29.38
-19.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 DZD 275
$2.53 MX$44.31
-18.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 DZD 21.87
$0.51 MX$8.93
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.73 DZD 2,347
$26.04 MX$457
-31.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 DZD 92.5
$3.23 MX$56.7
-78.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.57
$2.41 MX$42.19
-85.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.16 DZD 684
$3.23 MX$56.6
59.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.38 DZD 50.0
$1.32 MX$23.17
-71.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K DZD 4.3M
$29.7K MX$520.9K
8.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K DZD 4.4M
$23.7K MX$415.0K
40.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.3 DZD 6,660
$82.0 MX$1,439
-38.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.95 DZD 1,450
$22.95 MX$403
-52.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.20 DZD 3,073
$30.11 MX$528
-22.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.68 DZD 3,135
$52.0 MX$912
-54.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.56 DZD 604
$18.53 MX$325
-75.39%
Cinema Ticket
$1.98 DZD 263
$4.98 MX$87.3
-60.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$39.05 DZD 5,171
$197 MX$3,463
-80.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,593 DZD 475.7K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
-32.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 DZD 7,753
$35.60 MX$624
64.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.20 DZD 5,588
$40.33 MX$707
4.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.5 DZD 9,202
$78.8 MX$1,381
-11.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1 DZD 11.4K
$88.9 MX$1,560
-3.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 DZD 22.9K
$947 MX$16.6K
-81.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$122 DZD 16.2K
$474 MX$8,314
-74.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 DZD 39.0K
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-82.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$209 DZD 27.7K
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-82.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$934 DZD 123.6K
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-76.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$625 DZD 82.8K
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-90.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Annaba
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$310 DZD 41.0K
$654 MX$11.5K
-52.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.75
11.42
-49.65%

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

Last update for Annaba: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $173 in Annaba and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 111% 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: $32.00 in Annaba vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $249 per month, with Annaba 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
Annaba vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Annaba?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Annaba or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 111% 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.
What is the rent difference between Annaba and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $173 in Annaba versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Annaba runs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $39.05 in Annaba versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Annaba or in Playa del Carmen?
At $660 in Annaba versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Annaba but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Annaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Annaba or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Annaba 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.
Which city is safer, Annaba or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Annaba 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Annaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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