😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $533 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $896 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,258 in Azazga, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 137% more than Azazga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Azazga are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Azazga61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$2.35DZD 313
393.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$28.96DZD 3,855
62.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$1.95DZD 260
509.23%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.10DZD 146
261.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$0.39DZD 51.9
266.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.20DZD 26.26
310.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$1.18DZD 157
170.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$1.55DZD 207
338.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$0.75DZD 99.4
124.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.16DZD 21.89
1275.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.19DZD 158
43.70%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.35DZD 180
102.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$8.14DZD 1,083
17.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$4.05DZD 540
122.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$15.01DZD 1,998
-14.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$2.14DZD 285
35.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$2.92DZD 388
-48.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.15DZD 154
86.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$0.95DZD 127
137.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$0.59DZD 78.7
235.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$0.48DZD 63.9
314.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.78DZD 104
57.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.28DZD 37.49
328.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$2.27DZD 302
100.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.10DZD 944
46.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$0.89DZD 119
82.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.56DZD 207
84.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.19DZD 25.82
215.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$5.81DZD 773
395.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.39DZD 52.5
1282.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.36DZD 48.28
936.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$5.84DZD 777
-1.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$0.32DZD 42.49
381.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$36.5KDZD 4.9M
-38.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$35.0KDZD 4.7M
-25.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$44.89DZD 5,974
103.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$10.61DZD 1,412
137.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$12.83DZD 1,707
143.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$19.04DZD 2,534
252.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$4.68DZD 623
3.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$76.5DZD 10.2K
192.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$6,460DZD 859.8K
-34.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$32.71DZD 4,353
43.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$36.52DZD 4,861
21.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$72.6DZD 9,664
10.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$82.7DZD 11.0K
12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$157DZD 20.9K
576.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$113DZD 15.0K
245.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$310DZD 41.2K
593.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$235DZD 31.2K
442.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$1,242DZD 165.3K
222.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$239DZD 31.9K
216.67%
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 12, 2026
Last update for Azazga: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $157 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 217% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.00 in Azazga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $178 – 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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $533 in Azazga – roughly 137% 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $800 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $29.00 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $533 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 $533, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $533 in Azazga to $1,266 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