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 $585 per month in Mostaganem vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $936 per month in Mostaganem vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,288 per month in Mostaganem vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mostaganem is about 54% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mostaganem and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mostaganem 56% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 DZD 414

$11.67 MX$202

-73.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.87 DZD 3,159

$41.88 MX$726

-43.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.89 DZD 515

$10.40 MX$180

-62.60%

Cappuccino

$0.99 DZD 131

$3.61 MX$62.6

-72.58%

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

$0.57 DZD 75.7

$1.47 MX$25.45

-61.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 DZD 30.51

$0.91 MX$15.80

-74.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 DZD 262

$3.03 MX$52.6

-34.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 DZD 318

$4.47 MX$77.4

-46.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 DZD 109

$1.38 MX$23.83

-39.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.15 DZD 19.29

$1.84 MX$31.93

-91.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 DZD 173

$1.61 MX$27.82

-18.63%

Eggs

$1.81 DZD 240

$2.57 MX$44.52

-29.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.93 DZD 784

$8.49 MX$147

-30.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 DZD 543

$8.49 MX$147

-51.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.50 DZD 2,183

$10.99 MX$190

50.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.19 DZD 422

$2.73 MX$47.25

16.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.86 DZD 379

$1.50 MX$25.92

90.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 DZD 204

$1.96 MX$33.93

-21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 DZD 76.0

$2.12 MX$36.70

-73.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.60 DZD 78.9

$1.86 MX$32.30

-67.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 DZD 62.1

$2.17 MX$37.67

-78.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 DZD 96.3

$1.07 MX$18.59

-31.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 DZD 36.73

$1.05 MX$18.18

-73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 DZD 337

$4.19 MX$72.6

-39.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.14 DZD 945

$10.28 MX$178

-30.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 DZD 179

$1.67 MX$28.87

-19.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 DZD 285

$2.49 MX$43.12

-13.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 DZD 20.73

$0.54 MX$9.37

-70.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.50 DZD 2,316

$26.27 MX$455

-33.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 DZD 36.03

$3.10 MX$53.8

-91.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 DZD 47.80

$2.46 MX$42.66

-85.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 DZD 730

$3.24 MX$56.1

70.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.30 DZD 39.23

$1.26 MX$21.83

-76.19%

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

$36.4K DZD 4.8M

$30.2K MX$522.8K

20.63%

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

$33.4K DZD 4.4M

$23.4K MX$406.3K

42.48%

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

$40.24 DZD 5,325

$84.0 MX$1,456

-52.09%

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

$7.77 DZD 1,028

$22.21 MX$385

-65.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.10 DZD 2,263

$29.65 MX$514

-42.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.47 DZD 3,105

$52.6 MX$912

-55.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 DZD 803

$4.95 MX$85.7

22.63%

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

$95.2 DZD 12.6K

$198 MX$3,438

-52.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,629 DZD 480.2K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

-31.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.64 DZD 4,849

$35.95 MX$623

1.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.92 DZD 5,945

$40.06 MX$694

12.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.8 DZD 9,893

$78.8 MX$1,365

-5.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 DZD 10.0K

$86.5 MX$1,499

-12.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 DZD 25.7K

$977 MX$16.9K

-80.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 DZD 15.1K

$471 MX$8,158

-75.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 DZD 36.1K

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-82.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 DZD 24.6K

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-84.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$940 DZD 124.4K

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-76.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$239 DZD 31.6K

$714 MX$12.4K

-66.60%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Mostaganem 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 199% 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 in Mostaganem versus $42 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

Monthly costs with rent: $585 in Mostaganem, $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 116% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $877 per month in Mostaganem and $1,891 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 Mostaganem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $585 in Mostaganem and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Mostaganem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostaganem, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Mostaganem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $585 in Mostaganem to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 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.