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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $654 in Annaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,066 in Annaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,478 in Annaba.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 98% more expensive than Annaba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Annaba 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$2.98 DZD 396
293.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$33.09 DZD 4,403
25.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$6.51 DZD 866
63.44%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$1.47 DZD 195
139.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$0.81 DZD 108
86.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$0.27 DZD 36.21
259.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.93 DZD 257
52.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$2.31 DZD 307
92.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$0.99 DZD 132
39.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$0.28 DZD 37.18
575.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.29
$1.82 DZD 242
-9.89%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.30
$2.07 DZD 275
21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$6.16 DZD 819
35.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$4.72 DZD 628
76.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$21.08 DZD 2,805
-49.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$3.18 DZD 423
-18.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$3.50 DZD 466
-58.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$1.75 DZD 233
8.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$0.75 DZD 100
177.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
$0.70 DZD 93.2
154.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$0.40 DZD 53.6
447.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$0.49 DZD 65.8
112.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$0.36 DZD 48.51
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$3.20 DZD 425
27.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$6.77 DZD 901
52.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.59
$1.35 DZD 179
26.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.50
$2.18 DZD 290
18.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.15 DZD 20.28
240.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
$17.37 DZD 2,312
52.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.70 DZD 92.9
365.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.05
$0.36 DZD 48.02
591.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$5.37 DZD 715
-39.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$0.34 DZD 45.86
285.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.2K
$32.8K DZD 4.4M
-7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$404.9K
$33.3K DZD 4.4M
-29.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
$49.74 DZD 6,619
66.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$11.25 DZD 1,498
97.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$23.55 DZD 3,133
24.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
$23.62 DZD 3,143
118.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$4.62 DZD 615
296.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
$1.88 DZD 250
169.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
$39.15 DZD 5,210
412.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$3,626 DZD 482.4K
43.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$638
$58.6 DZD 7,796
-36.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$41.15 DZD 5,476
-3.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,356
$70.3 DZD 9,356
11.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,505
$86.2 DZD 11.5K
1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$173 DZD 23.1K
460.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$124 DZD 16.5K
276.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$295 DZD 39.3K
456.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$206 DZD 27.5K
491.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
$928 DZD 123.5K
325.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
$643 DZD 85.5K
910.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$321 DZD 42.7K
106.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.75
98.61%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Annaba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $173 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 107% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $33.00 in Annaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $215 per month, with Annaba 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 Annaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Annaba cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Annaba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Annaba?
Playa del Carmen pays 107% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $173 in Annaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Annaba runs roughly 52% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.15 in Annaba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Annaba?
At $654 in Annaba versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Annaba but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Annaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Annaba more family-friendly?
For families, Annaba 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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Annaba?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Annaba 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Annaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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