🙂A single person spends $572 per month in Jijel vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $914 per month in Jijel vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,256 per month in Jijel vs $2,990 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 – Jijel57% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54DZD 337
$11.72MX$204
-78.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.43DZD 3,100
$41.89MX$731
-44.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.65DZD 616
$10.51MX$183
-55.76%
Cappuccino
$0.96DZD 127
$3.59MX$62.5
-73.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 81.2
$1.51MX$26.31
-59.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.46
$0.92MX$15.96
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89DZD 251
$2.96MX$51.6
-36.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 321
$4.41MX$76.9
-44.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87DZD 115
$1.40MX$24.35
-37.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.59
$1.88MX$32.87
-93.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43DZD 189
$1.56MX$27.19
-8.33%
Eggs
$1.82DZD 240
$2.61MX$45.50
-30.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.81DZD 1,166
$8.32MX$145
5.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.58DZD 606
$8.35MX$146
-45.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.57DZD 1,664
$10.86MX$189
15.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22DZD 426
$2.71MX$47.31
18.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90DZD 384
$1.51MX$26.25
92.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48DZD 196
$1.87MX$32.67
-20.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74DZD 98.6
$2.19MX$38.19
-66.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 77.7
$1.86MX$32.40
-68.28%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39DZD 51.1
$2.23MX$38.90
-82.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40DZD 52.3
$1.07MX$18.63
-62.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.89
$1.09MX$18.94
-74.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38DZD 315
$4.19MX$73.0
-43.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.89DZD 912
$10.43MX$182
-33.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 171
$1.66MX$28.91
-22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14DZD 283
$2.61MX$45.56
-18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22DZD 28.96
$0.54MX$9.45
-59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.48DZD 2,313
$26.16MX$456
-33.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67DZD 88.1
$3.08MX$53.7
-78.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22DZD 29.18
$2.40MX$41.94
-90.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.67DZD 750
$3.13MX$54.5
81.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 47.69
$1.31MX$22.87
-72.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
$29.8KMX$519.9K
21.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
$23.3KMX$406.8K
43.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.54DZD 5,366
$81.3MX$1,418
-50.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.86DZD 908
$22.56MX$393
-69.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86DZD 2,364
$30.05MX$524
-40.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.64DZD 2,335
$52.9MX$923
-66.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.06DZD 802
$4.92MX$85.8
23.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$87.6DZD 11.6K
$201MX$3,502
-56.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,394DZD 184.5K
$5,175MX$90.2K
-73.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.40DZD 4,950
$35.92MX$627
4.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.21DZD 4,395
$40.13MX$700
-17.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.2DZD 8,368
$79.7MX$1,390
-20.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9DZD 8,716
$86.5MX$1,508
-23.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199DZD 26.4K
$978MX$17.1K
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127DZD 16.8K
$470MX$8,206
-73.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273DZD 36.2K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-83.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 23.9K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-84.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$791DZD 104.7K
$3,953MX$69.0K
-80.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$414DZD 54.8K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-93.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jijel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$252DZD 33.4K
$677MX$11.8K
-62.70%
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 Jijel: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $199 in Jijel versus $978 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 168% 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 $23.00 in Jijel versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $252 – 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 – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 120%, 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 $859 per month in Jijel and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 36% 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 in 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 café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jijel or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jijel, where all-in costs run around $572, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 – 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 – 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.