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 $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 – Jijel 57% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

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

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