😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $600 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $951 in Azazga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,301 in Azazga, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 112% 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, Azazga55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$2.28DZD 302
420.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$23.79DZD 3,153
80.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$1.95DZD 258
446.15%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.00DZD 132
245.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.37DZD 49.64
305.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.21DZD 27.67
352.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.14DZD 151
165.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.50DZD 199
207.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.75DZD 98.9
84.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.14DZD 18.74
1221.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.75DZD 232
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.88DZD 249
37.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$8.88DZD 1,177
-6.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$5.43DZD 720
54.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$16.29DZD 2,160
-34.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$3.05DZD 404
-13.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.92DZD 387
-48.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.77DZD 235
8.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.86DZD 114
143.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.64DZD 84.2
190.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.47DZD 62.1
380.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.73DZD 96.6
45.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.30DZD 40.02
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.33DZD 309
78.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$6.90DZD 914
50.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$0.96DZD 127
79.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.50DZD 199
74.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.25DZD 33.26
116.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$17.11DZD 2,267
57.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.40DZD 53.2
682.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.33DZD 44.22
660.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$5.69DZD 755
-44.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$0.32DZD 42.00
296.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$36.1KDZD 4.8M
-15.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-30.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$40.79DZD 5,406
103.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$9.51DZD 1,260
138.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$15.64DZD 2,072
88.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$23.60DZD 3,128
116.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$6.27DZD 830
-21.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$77.2DZD 10.2K
155.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,608DZD 478.2K
46.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$37.08DZD 4,914
-0.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$46.35DZD 6,144
-13.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$74.9DZD 9,930
6.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$77.0DZD 10.2K
16.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$196DZD 26.0K
387.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$114DZD 15.2K
317.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$277DZD 36.7K
495.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$182DZD 24.1K
573.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,053DZD 139.5K
272.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,252DZD 166.0K
415.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Azazga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$239DZD 31.6K
179.36%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Azazga: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $196 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 179% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Azazga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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 Azazga compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, $600 in Azazga – roughly 112% 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $900 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 $43.00 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $600 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 $600, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $600 in Azazga to $1,271 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