😐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 Carmen3% lower, Annaba51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$2.98DZD 396
293.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$33.09DZD 4,403
25.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$6.51DZD 866
63.44%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$1.47DZD 195
139.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$0.81DZD 108
86.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$0.27DZD 36.21
259.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.93DZD 257
52.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.31DZD 307
92.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$0.99DZD 132
39.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$0.28DZD 37.18
575.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$1.82DZD 242
-9.89%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$2.07DZD 275
21.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.16DZD 819
35.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.72DZD 628
76.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$21.08DZD 2,805
-49.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$3.18DZD 423
-18.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$3.50DZD 466
-58.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$1.75DZD 233
8.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$0.75DZD 100
177.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$0.70DZD 93.2
154.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$0.40DZD 53.6
447.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$0.49DZD 65.8
112.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.36DZD 48.51
200.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$3.20DZD 425
27.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$6.77DZD 901
52.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$1.35DZD 179
26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$2.18DZD 290
18.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.15DZD 20.28
240.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$17.37DZD 2,312
52.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$0.70DZD 92.9
365.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$0.36DZD 48.02
591.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$5.37DZD 715
-39.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$0.34DZD 45.86
285.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$32.8KDZD 4.4M
-7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$33.3KDZD 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)
$82.9MX$1,432
$49.74DZD 6,619
66.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$11.25DZD 1,498
97.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$23.55DZD 3,133
24.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$23.62DZD 3,143
118.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$4.62DZD 615
296.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$1.88DZD 250
169.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$39.15DZD 5,210
412.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$3,626DZD 482.4K
43.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$58.6DZD 7,796
-36.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$41.15DZD 5,476
-3.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$70.3DZD 9,356
11.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$86.2DZD 11.5K
1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$173DZD 23.1K
460.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$124DZD 16.5K
276.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$295DZD 39.3K
456.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$206DZD 27.5K
491.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$928DZD 123.5K
325.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$643DZD 85.5K
910.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$321DZD 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared