🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $604 in Ouargla versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $975 in Ouargla versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,346 in Ouargla versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Ouargla costs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ouargla55% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12DZD 413
$11.87MX$204
-73.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.49DZD 3,114
$42.90MX$736
-45.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.83DZD 508
$10.65MX$183
-64.04%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 97.8
$3.45MX$59.2
-78.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60DZD 80.1
$1.50MX$25.81
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.83
$0.95MX$16.28
-77.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 264
$3.03MX$51.9
-34.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$4.61MX$79.1
-47.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 136
$1.38MX$23.61
-25.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 17.93
$1.85MX$31.70
-92.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.61MX$27.65
-1.24%
Eggs
$1.84DZD 244
$2.59MX$44.51
-28.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.73DZD 1,158
$8.26MX$142
5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27DZD 699
$8.37MX$144
-37.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.77DZD 2,223
$10.66MX$183
57.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10DZD 410
$2.63MX$45.12
17.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 387
$1.49MX$25.53
95.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78DZD 236
$1.92MX$32.94
-7.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74DZD 98.7
$2.09MX$35.81
-64.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 74.2
$1.86MX$31.88
-69.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 66.2
$2.26MX$38.81
-77.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.8
$1.06MX$18.23
-42.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.97
$1.09MX$18.67
-74.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83DZD 375
$4.15MX$71.2
-31.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11DZD 810
$10.39MX$178
-41.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.72MX$29.59
-22.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 276
$2.61MX$44.85
-20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.31
$0.54MX$9.30
-53.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.10DZD 2,266
$26.94MX$462
-36.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 93.2
$3.13MX$53.7
-77.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 48.04
$2.51MX$43.09
-85.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40DZD 716
$3.15MX$54.1
71.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.40
$1.27MX$21.88
-73.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
7.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
43.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.07DZD 5,443
$83.0MX$1,425
-50.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20DZD 1,219
$22.71MX$390
-59.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89DZD 2,239
$29.46MX$506
-42.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01DZD 3,050
$51.0MX$875
-54.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.33MX$315
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.50DZD 729
$4.93MX$84.5
11.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.1DZD 12.3K
$197MX$3,386
-52.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,547DZD 470.2K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-32.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.39DZD 4,824
$36.90MX$633
-1.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98DZD 5,962
$39.89MX$685
12.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7DZD 9,770
$80.0MX$1,373
-7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3DZD 10.2K
$89.5MX$1,536
-13.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195DZD 25.8K
$956MX$16.4K
-79.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$113DZD 15.0K
$477MX$8,189
-76.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269DZD 35.7K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-83.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180DZD 23.9K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-85.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,163DZD 154.1K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-70.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$978DZD 129.6K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-84.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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 Ouargla: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Ouargla and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Ouargla vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $250 per month, with Ouargla cheaper across the board.
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
Ouargla vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ouargla or Playa del Carmen?
Ouargla wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ouargla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ouargla vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $905 in Ouargla and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ouargla vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Ouargla versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ouargla vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Ouargla runs roughly 58% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ouargla and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $93.1 in Ouargla versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ouargla or Playa del Carmen?
At $604 in Ouargla versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ouargla but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ouargla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ouargla or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ouargla delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $604 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ouargla hard to pass up.
How safe is Ouargla compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Ouargla and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ouargla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.