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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $595 per month in Mostaganem vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $947 per month in Mostaganem vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,299 per month in Mostaganem vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mostaganem is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mostaganem and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mostaganem 55% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26 DZD 431
$11.72 MX$204
-72.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.09 DZD 3,188
$41.89 MX$731
-42.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.89 DZD 514
$10.51 MX$183
-62.99%
Cappuccino
$0.98 DZD 130
$3.59 MX$62.5
-72.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 DZD 76.3
$1.51 MX$26.31
-61.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 DZD 27.78
$0.92 MX$15.96
-77.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 DZD 255
$2.96 MX$51.6
-34.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 DZD 320
$4.41 MX$76.9
-45.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 DZD 108
$1.40 MX$24.35
-41.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 DZD 17.84
$1.88 MX$32.87
-93.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 DZD 172
$1.56 MX$27.19
-16.67%
Eggs
$1.87 DZD 248
$2.61 MX$45.50
-28.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.90 DZD 780
$8.32 MX$145
-29.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.30 DZD 569
$8.35 MX$146
-48.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.32 DZD 2,160
$10.86 MX$189
50.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 DZD 419
$2.71 MX$47.31
16.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 DZD 386
$1.51 MX$26.25
92.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 DZD 212
$1.87 MX$32.67
-14.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 DZD 77.6
$2.19 MX$38.19
-73.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 DZD 79.4
$1.86 MX$32.40
-67.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 DZD 61.4
$2.23 MX$38.90
-79.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 DZD 90.6
$1.07 MX$18.63
-36.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 DZD 36.91
$1.09 MX$18.94
-74.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.64 DZD 349
$4.19 MX$73.0
-36.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 DZD 898
$10.43 MX$182
-35.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 DZD 177
$1.66 MX$28.91
-19.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 DZD 275
$2.61 MX$45.56
-20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 DZD 20.49
$0.54 MX$9.45
-72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.12 DZD 2,266
$26.16 MX$456
-34.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.25 DZD 32.69
$3.08 MX$53.7
-91.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 DZD 44.91
$2.40 MX$41.94
-85.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 DZD 754
$3.13 MX$54.5
82.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.30 DZD 39.32
$1.31 MX$22.87
-77.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K DZD 4.7M
$29.8K MX$519.9K
18.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K DZD 4.4M
$23.3K MX$406.8K
42.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.57 DZD 5,370
$81.3 MX$1,418
-50.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.88 DZD 1,043
$22.56 MX$393
-65.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.58 DZD 2,194
$30.05 MX$524
-44.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.36 DZD 3,091
$52.9 MX$923
-55.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39 MX$321
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.21 DZD 822
$4.92 MX$85.8
26.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.8 DZD 12.3K
$201 MX$3,502
-53.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,528 DZD 467.0K
$5,175 MX$90.2K
-31.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.04 DZD 4,902
$35.92 MX$627
3.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.36 DZD 6,136
$40.13 MX$700
15.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 DZD 9,839
$79.7 MX$1,390
-6.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.0 DZD 10.1K
$86.5 MX$1,508
-12.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 DZD 25.6K
$978 MX$17.1K
-80.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 DZD 15.2K
$470 MX$8,206
-75.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 DZD 36.9K
$1,651 MX$28.8K
-83.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 DZD 24.0K
$1,203 MX$21.0K
-84.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,150 DZD 152.2K
$3,953 MX$69.0K
-70.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$993 DZD 131.4K
$6,607 MX$115.2K
-84.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mostaganem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$236 DZD 31.2K
$677 MX$11.8K
-65.11%
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 Mostaganem: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Mostaganem 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 187% 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 Mostaganem versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $252 – making Mostaganem 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
Mostaganem vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mostaganem and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $595 in Mostaganem, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 112% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mostaganem compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $892 per month in Mostaganem and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mostaganem and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mostaganem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mostaganem or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $595 in Mostaganem and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Mostaganem and in Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 53% less in Mostaganem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostaganem, where all-in costs run around $595, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Mostaganem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mostaganem and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $595 in Mostaganem to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mostaganem or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mostaganem and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Mostaganem. 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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