😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $584 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $934 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,283 in Azazga, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 116% more than Azazga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Azazga are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Azazga56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$2.24DZD 297
423.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$23.77DZD 3,143
76.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$1.96DZD 259
436.22%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$0.98DZD 130
266.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.38DZD 50.1
297.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.18DZD 24.05
411.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.14DZD 150
159.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.57DZD 208
180.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.79DZD 104
77.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.16DZD 21.51
1075.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.74DZD 230
-10.34%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.80DZD 238
45.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$8.93DZD 1,180
-6.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$5.30DZD 701
57.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$16.18DZD 2,140
-32.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.16DZD 418
-14.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.85DZD 377
-47.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.72DZD 228
8.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.91DZD 120
140.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.64DZD 84.8
190.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.49DZD 65.3
355.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.72DZD 95.3
48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.30DZD 40.18
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.36DZD 312
77.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$7.00DZD 926
49.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.96DZD 128
72.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.56DZD 207
67.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.25DZD 33.12
116.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$17.18DZD 2,272
52.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.40DZD 53.4
670.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.37DZD 48.37
548.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$5.65DZD 747
-44.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.32DZD 42.22
309.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$35.4KDZD 4.7M
-15.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
-30.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$40.41DZD 5,343
101.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$9.66DZD 1,277
133.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$15.47DZD 2,046
94.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$23.54DZD 3,112
124.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.34DZD 838
-22.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$77.6DZD 10.3K
158.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$3,650DZD 482.7K
41.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$36.42DZD 4,816
-1.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$45.46DZD 6,011
-11.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$74.4DZD 9,842
7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$77.7DZD 10.3K
11.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$191DZD 25.3K
411.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$117DZD 15.4K
303.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$273DZD 36.1K
504.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$182DZD 24.1K
561.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,253DZD 165.7K
215.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,152DZD 152.4K
473.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$238DZD 31.5K
183.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.42
110.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Azazga: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $191 in Azazga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 184% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Azazga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $201 – making Azazga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Azazga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Azazga compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $584 in Azazga – roughly 116% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Azazga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $876 in Azazga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Azazga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Azazga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $24.00 in Azazga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Azazga?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $584 in Azazga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Azazga, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Azazga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Azazga?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $584 in Azazga to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Azazga safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Azazga?
If budget matters most, go with Azazga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared