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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $568 per month in Jijel vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $912 per month in Jijel vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,255 per month in Jijel vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jijel is about 55% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jijel and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median โ€“ Jijel 58% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.48 DZDย 328
$11.67 MX$202
-78.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.24 DZDย 3,076
$41.88 MX$726
-44.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.58 DZDย 606
$10.40 MX$180
-55.96%
Cappuccino
$0.98 DZDย 130
$3.61 MX$62.6
-72.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 DZDย 79.5
$1.47 MX$25.45
-59.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 DZDย 30.46
$0.91 MX$15.80
-74.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 DZDย 256
$3.03 MX$52.6
-36.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 DZDย 320
$4.47 MX$77.4
-45.86%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 DZDย 119
$1.38 MX$23.83
-34.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.14 DZDย 18.06
$1.84 MX$31.93
-92.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 DZDย 187
$1.61 MX$27.82
-11.80%
Eggs
$1.79 DZDย 237
$2.57 MX$44.52
-30.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.84 DZDย 1,170
$8.49 MX$147
4.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 DZDย 583
$8.49 MX$147
-48.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.38 DZDย 1,638
$10.99 MX$190
12.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 DZDย 418
$2.73 MX$47.25
15.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 DZDย 379
$1.50 MX$25.92
90.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 DZDย 188
$1.96 MX$33.93
-27.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 DZDย 92.5
$2.12 MX$36.70
-66.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 DZDย 75.9
$1.86 MX$32.30
-69.35%
Onion (1kg)
$0.35 DZDย 46.88
$2.17 MX$37.67
-83.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 DZDย 55.9
$1.07 MX$18.59
-60.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 DZDย 39.88
$1.05 MX$18.18
-71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49 DZDย 330
$4.19 MX$72.6
-40.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.14 DZDย 945
$10.28 MX$178
-30.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 DZDย 179
$1.67 MX$28.87
-19.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 DZDย 285
$2.49 MX$43.12
-13.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 DZDย 28.99
$0.54 MX$9.37
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.34 DZDย 2,294
$26.27 MX$455
-33.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 DZDย 92.9
$3.10 MX$53.8
-77.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 DZDย 26.45
$2.46 MX$42.66
-91.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 DZDย 741
$3.24 MX$56.1
72.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 DZDย 47.84
$1.26 MX$21.83
-71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K DZDย 4.8M
$30.2K MX$522.8K
20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K DZDย 4.5M
$23.4K MX$406.3K
44.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.82 DZDย 5,269
$84.0 MX$1,456
-52.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.04 DZDย 932
$22.21 MX$385
-68.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.01 DZDย 2,384
$29.65 MX$514
-39.26%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.32 DZDย 2,292
$52.6 MX$912
-67.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.34 MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.13 DZDย 811
$4.95 MX$85.7
23.84%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$87.1 DZDย 11.5K
$198 MX$3,438
-56.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,411 DZDย 186.7K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
-73.48%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.79 DZDย 4,868
$35.95 MX$623
2.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.24 DZDย 4,531
$40.06 MX$694
-14.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.8 DZDย 8,442
$78.8 MX$1,365
-19.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6 DZDย 8,947
$86.5 MX$1,499
-21.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 DZDย 26.7K
$977 MX$16.9K
-79.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$125 DZDย 16.5K
$471 MX$8,158
-73.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$274 DZDย 36.2K
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-82.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 DZDย 24.4K
$1,215 MX$21.1K
-84.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$804 DZDย 106.4K
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-80.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$424 DZDย 56.1K
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-93.56%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$259 DZDย 34.3K
$714 MX$12.4K
-63.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.42
11.42
-52.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jijel: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $202 in Jijel versus $977 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 175% 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 $23 in Jijel versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $252 โ€“ making Jijel 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
Jijel vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Jijel?
Yes โ€“ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 122%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $852 per month in Jijel and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jijel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jijel and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 37% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Jijel or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Jijel and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jijel or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jijel, where all-in costs run around $568, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Jijel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jijel or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jijel โ€“ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jijel or 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 โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jijel. 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.

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