😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $580 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $892 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,204 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 117% more than Bejaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Bejaia are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Bejaia56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$2.39DZD 317
390.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$7.95DZD 1,052
426.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.73DZD 626
122.20%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$0.25DZD 33.07
1336.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.57DZD 74.8
164.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.21DZD 27.73
338.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.98DZD 262
49.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.21DZD 160
264.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.03DZD 136
35.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.15DZD 19.37
1153.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.62DZD 214
-3.70%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.87DZD 248
39.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$6.43DZD 850
29.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$5.32DZD 704
56.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$16.67DZD 2,204
-34.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.13DZD 413
-13.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.97DZD 260
-23.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.77DZD 234
5.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.87DZD 116
151.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.60DZD 79.8
210.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.50DZD 66.5
346.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.68DZD 89.8
57.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.28DZD 36.54
289.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.72DZD 360
54.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.74DZD 891
54.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.34DZD 178
23.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.13DZD 282
22.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.14DZD 18.66
285.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$23.37DZD 3,090
11.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.66DZD 87.1
366.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.36DZD 47.72
566.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$3.98DZD 526
-21.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.34DZD 44.48
285.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$36.4KDZD 4.8M
-18.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$33.4KDZD 4.4M
-30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$39.97DZD 5,285
103.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$9.30DZD 1,229
142.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$17.87DZD 2,362
68.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$21.55DZD 2,850
145.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$6.08DZD 805
202.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$4.49DZD 594
9.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$93.5DZD 12.4K
114.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$2,370DZD 313.4K
118.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$31.96DZD 4,226
12.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$45.97DZD 6,078
-12.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$64.5DZD 8,531
23.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$77.9DZD 10.3K
10.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$194DZD 25.6K
404.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$117DZD 15.4K
303.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$272DZD 36.0K
507.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$187DZD 24.7K
543.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$4,514DZD 596.9K
-12.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$3,869DZD 511.5K
70.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$212DZD 28.1K
218.52%
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 Bejaia: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $194 in Bejaia. 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 219% 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 $8.00 in Bejaia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $194 – making Bejaia 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 Bejaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Bejaia?
Playa del Carmen costs about 117% more than Bejaia, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Bejaia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $871 in Bejaia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Bejaia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bejaia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Bejaia?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Bejaia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Bejaia?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $93.5 in Bejaia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Bejaia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bejaia, where all-in costs run around $580, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Bejaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Bejaia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bejaia costs $580 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Bejaia?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Bejaia?
If budget matters most, go with Bejaia. 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