Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordj Bou Arreridj and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordj Bou Arreridj and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Bordj Bou Arreridj vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Bordj Bou Arreridj vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,066 per month in Bordj Bou Arreridj vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bordj Bou Arreridj is about 60% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bordj Bou Arreridj and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Bordj Bou Arreridj 63% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 DZD 303
$11.60 MX$199
-80.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$7.63 DZD 1,017
$47.11 MX$809
-83.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.69 DZD 493
$11.88 MX$204
-68.94%
Cappuccino
$0.44 DZD 58.9
$3.98 MX$68.2
-88.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 DZD 77.0
$1.43 MX$24.49
-59.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.76
$0.82 MX$14.16
-65.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.75 DZD 101
$3.19 MX$54.7
-76.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 DZD 305
$6.79 MX$117
-66.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 DZD 122
$1.68 MX$28.76
-45.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 DZD 10.03
$2.20 MX$37.71
-96.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 DZD 108
$1.71 MX$29.32
-52.63%
Eggs
$1.34 DZD 178
$2.74 MX$47.05
-51.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.95 DZD 927
$9.58 MX$164
-27.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.02 DZD 536
$9.01 MX$155
-55.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 DZD 1,959
$12.81 MX$220
14.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 DZD 282
$2.89 MX$49.58
-26.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.41 DZD 322
$1.50 MX$25.70
60.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 DZD 154
$2.15 MX$36.87
-46.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 DZD 132
$2.26 MX$38.79
-56.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 DZD 84.4
$1.98 MX$34.00
-68.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 DZD 67.1
$1.99 MX$34.15
-74.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 DZD 110
$1.23 MX$21.18
-32.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 37.46
$1.20 MX$20.54
-76.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 DZD 363
$4.55 MX$78.1
-40.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.14 DZD 952
$10.37 MX$178
-31.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 DZD 168
$1.62 MX$27.79
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 DZD 268
$2.88 MX$49.44
-30.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 DZD 25.89
$0.60 MX$10.30
-68.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.21 DZD 961
$28.80 MX$494
-74.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 DZD 80.4
$5.39 MX$92.5
-88.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 DZD 65.4
$3.73 MX$64.0
-86.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.75 DZD 767
$5.77 MX$99.0
-0.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 DZD 44.67
$1.54 MX$26.37
-78.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K DZD 4.9M
$22.5K MX$387.0K
63.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K DZD 4.7M
$26.1K MX$447.3K
34.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.95 DZD 6,128
$91.4 MX$1,569
-49.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.10 DZD 1,080
$25.20 MX$433
-67.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.81 DZD 1,708
$31.24 MX$536
-58.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.82 DZD 1,843
$67.2 MX$1,154
-79.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74 DZD 632
$4.86 MX$83.5
-2.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.0 DZD 8,401
$224 MX$3,839
-71.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,479 DZD 864.0K
$4,229 MX$72.6K
53.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.66 DZD 4,489
$47.10 MX$808
-28.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26 DZD 4,702
$44.29 MX$760
-20.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.49 DZD 4,734
$80.1 MX$1,375
-55.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5 DZD 7,400
$92.7 MX$1,591
-40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$157 DZD 21.0K
$1,063 MX$18.2K
-85.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$109 DZD 14.5K
$390 MX$6,698
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 DZD 37.7K
$2,149 MX$36.9K
-86.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 DZD 27.7K
$1,272 MX$21.8K
-83.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,310 DZD 174.7K
$4,001 MX$68.7K
-67.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$310 DZD 41.4K
$6,502 MX$111.6K
-95.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$351 DZD 46.8K
$758 MX$13.0K
-53.72%
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 Bordj Bou Arreridj: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $157 in Bordj Bou Arreridj 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.

Salaries run about 116% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Bordj Bou Arreridj versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $276 – making Bordj Bou Arreridj 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
Bordj Bou Arreridj vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bordj Bou Arreridj or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 150% more than Bordj Bou Arreridj, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bordj Bou Arreridj and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $759 per month in Bordj Bou Arreridj and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bordj Bou Arreridj or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bordj Bou Arreridj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bordj Bou Arreridj and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Bordj Bou Arreridj and $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bordj Bou Arreridj compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $506 in Bordj Bou Arreridj and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bordj Bou Arreridj or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bordj Bou Arreridj, where all-in costs run around $506, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Bordj Bou Arreridj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bordj Bou Arreridj or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bordj Bou Arreridj costs $506 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bordj Bou Arreridj compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bordj Bou Arreridj or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Bordj Bou Arreridj. 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.

Bordj Bou Arreridj vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities