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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $598 in Algiers.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $999 in Algiers.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,399 in Algiers.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 118% more expensive than in Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Algiers 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$3.53 DZD 469

238.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$805

$28.65 DZD 3,808

65.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$200

$4.62 DZD 614

154.33%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.1

$1.16 DZD 154

255.17%

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

$1.40 MX$23.78

$0.63 DZD 83.1

122.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.50

$0.30 DZD 40.24

203.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.5

$2.34 DZD 311

37.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$2.33 DZD 310

203.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.49

$0.91 DZD 121

84.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.53

$0.16 DZD 20.91

1243.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.14

$1.20 DZD 160

47.50%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.83

$1.40 DZD 186

101.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$8.15 DZD 1,083

12.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$4.01 DZD 533

130.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$215

$14.75 DZD 1,960

-14.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$2.20 DZD 293

34.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.83

$2.85 DZD 379

-44.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.76

$1.12 DZD 149

98.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.15

$0.95 DZD 127

148.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.86

$0.63 DZD 84.0

215.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.63

$0.51 DZD 67.5

288.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.07

$0.84 DZD 111

47.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.58

$0.28 DZD 37.28

332.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.2

$3.18 DZD 422

44.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$179

$7.06 DZD 938

49.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.74

$1.33 DZD 177

27.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.13

$1.97 DZD 262

40.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.24

$0.38 DZD 50.9

57.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

$7.08 DZD 940

319.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$89.0

$0.55 DZD 73.3

852.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$62.0

$0.45 DZD 59.4

711.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.3

$5.69 DZD 756

1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.13

$0.35 DZD 46.00

340.00%

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

$22.8K MX$387.4K

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

-36.56%

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

$25.8K MX$438.5K

$35.9K DZD 4.8M

-28.12%

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

$90.7 MX$1,540

$45.12 DZD 5,996

100.95%

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

$25.19 MX$428

$10.91 DZD 1,450

130.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$12.93 DZD 1,718

145.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,169

$26.24 DZD 3,487

162.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

$28.34 DZD 3,766

3.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.6

$4.67 DZD 621

4.07%

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

$226 MX$3,834

$570 DZD 75.7K

-60.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.2K

$6,496 DZD 863.2K

-35.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$805

$33.79 DZD 4,490

40.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$738

$35.54 DZD 4,723

22.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,363

$72.9 DZD 9,688

10.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,552

$82.3 DZD 10.9K

11.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$171 DZD 22.8K

533.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,943

$135 DZD 17.9K

203.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$459 DZD 61.0K

329.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.8K

$251 DZD 33.3K

411.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.7K

$2,552 DZD 339.2K

58.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.9K

$1,408 DZD 187.1K

376.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$337 DZD 44.8K

129.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

5.3

116.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Algiers: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $171 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 129% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $29.00 in Algiers for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $182 per month, with Algiers 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

Playa del Carmen vs Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 129% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $171 in Algiers. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $598 in Algiers – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $598 in Algiers versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Algiers is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Algiers are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.