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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Chlef vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $747 per month in Chlef vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,015 per month in Chlef vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Chlef is about 62% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chlef and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Chlef 64% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.65 DZD 218

$11.87 MX$204

-86.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.54 DZD 3,121

$42.90 MX$736

-45.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$1.85 DZD 245

$10.65 MX$183

-82.63%

Cappuccino

$0.98 DZD 129

$3.45 MX$59.2

-71.59%

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

$0.48 DZD 63.6

$1.50 MX$25.81

-68.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 DZD 30.57

$0.95 MX$16.28

-75.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 DZD 143

$3.03 MX$51.9

-64.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 DZD 313

$4.61 MX$79.1

-48.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 DZD 71.3

$1.38 MX$23.61

-60.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.11 DZD 14.70

$1.85 MX$31.70

-94.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 DZD 194

$1.61 MX$27.65

-9.32%

Eggs

$1.49 DZD 197

$2.59 MX$44.51

-42.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.98 DZD 395

$8.26 MX$142

-63.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 DZD 555

$8.37 MX$144

-49.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 DZD 1,402

$10.66 MX$183

-0.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 DZD 410

$2.63 MX$45.12

17.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 DZD 380

$1.49 MX$25.53

91.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 DZD 179

$1.92 MX$32.94

-29.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.30 DZD 39.82

$2.09 MX$35.81

-85.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 DZD 47.80

$1.86 MX$31.88

-80.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 DZD 66.0

$2.26 MX$38.81

-77.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 DZD 81.2

$1.06 MX$18.23

-42.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 DZD 40.20

$1.09 MX$18.67

-72.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 DZD 318

$4.15 MX$71.2

-42.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.84 DZD 906

$10.39 MX$178

-34.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 DZD 143

$1.72 MX$29.59

-37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 DZD 272

$2.61 MX$44.85

-21.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 DZD 23.41

$0.54 MX$9.30

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.72 DZD 2,349

$26.94 MX$462

-34.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 DZD 88.0

$3.13 MX$53.7

-78.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 DZD 48.02

$2.51 MX$43.09

-85.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 DZD 534

$3.15 MX$54.1

27.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.32 DZD 42.00

$1.27 MX$21.88

-74.80%

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

$31.5K DZD 4.2M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

3.70%

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

$34.2K DZD 4.5M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

45.32%

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

$34.38 DZD 4,556

$83.0 MX$1,425

-58.58%

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

$9.42 DZD 1,249

$22.71 MX$390

-58.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.90 DZD 2,372

$29.46 MX$506

-39.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.87 DZD 1,441

$51.0 MX$875

-78.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 DZD 964

$18.33 MX$315

-60.34%

Cinema Ticket

$2.46 DZD 327

$4.93 MX$84.5

-50.10%

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

$70.1 DZD 9,289

$197 MX$3,386

-64.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,433 DZD 189.9K

$5,280 MX$90.6K

-72.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.74 DZD 1,424

$36.90 MX$633

-70.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.74 DZD 6,062

$39.89 MX$685

14.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.4 DZD 10.1K

$80.0 MX$1,373

-4.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.49 DZD 5,897

$89.5 MX$1,536

-50.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 DZD 26.2K

$956 MX$16.4K

-79.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 DZD 15.3K

$477 MX$8,189

-75.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 DZD 21.8K

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-90.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 DZD 15.3K

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-90.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,142 DZD 151.4K

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-70.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 DZD 149.1K

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-82.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 DZD 59.2K

$667 MX$11.4K

-33.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-56.22%

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

Last update for Chlef: June 9, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Chlef versus $956 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 49% 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 $24.00 in Chlef versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $151 vs $250 – making Chlef 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Chlef and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chlef, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $70.1 per month in Chlef and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 66% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chlef, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Chlef it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chlef – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chlef. 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.