😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $620 in Annaba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,006 in Annaba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,393 in Annaba.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 109% more expensive than in Annaba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Annaba55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$2.93DZD 388
299.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$788
$32.27DZD 4,276
44.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$6.33DZD 839
84.04%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$0.70DZD 93.0
484.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$0.79DZD 105
73.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.27DZD 35.86
207.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$1.36DZD 180
146.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$1.89DZD 250
265.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.20
$0.92DZD 122
88.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.21
$0.28DZD 37.49
707.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.91
$1.67DZD 221
5.99%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.19
$2.04DZD 270
33.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$6.19DZD 821
48.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$5.02DZD 665
77.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$20.39DZD 2,703
-38.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$2.08DZD 276
45.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.55
$3.56DZD 472
-55.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.93
$1.16DZD 153
83.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.28
$0.80DZD 107
182.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.88
$0.68DZD 90.1
194.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.90
$0.38DZD 49.82
442.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$0.51DZD 68.0
131.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.34DZD 44.67
252.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.4
$3.13DZD 415
47.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$6.30DZD 835
69.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.38
$1.27DZD 168
27.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.70
$2.21DZD 292
30.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.16DZD 21.60
256.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$6.55DZD 868
355.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$0.56DZD 74.7
873.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$0.44DZD 58.8
740.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$5.17DZD 685
15.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.26
$0.38DZD 50.7
307.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.4K
$36.1KDZD 4.8M
-38.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.7K
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
-26.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,507
$51.6DZD 6,837
72.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$9.01DZD 1,194
177.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$21.32DZD 2,826
47.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,146
$21.80DZD 2,888
210.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
$4.57DZD 606
532.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.4
$6.52DZD 864
-22.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,803
$39.04DZD 5,174
476.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$3,368DZD 446.3K
25.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$33.77DZD 4,475
40.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$41.86DZD 5,546
7.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$71.5DZD 9,471
14.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,557
$88.1DZD 11.7K
4.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$170DZD 22.6K
527.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,852
$123DZD 16.3K
229.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$299DZD 39.6K
547.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$210DZD 27.8K
521.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$935DZD 123.8K
327.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$643DZD 85.2K
931.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Annaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$316DZD 41.9K
137.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5.75
99.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Annaba: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $170 in Annaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 137% 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 $32.00 in Annaba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $204 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Annaba?
Average pay runs 137% 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Annaba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $170 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 355% 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 $225 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.04 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Annaba?
At $620 in Annaba versus $1,293 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 109% 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