😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $473 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $795 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,117 in Bejaia, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 168% more than Bejaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Bejaia are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Bejaia65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$2.43DZD 324
377.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$13.51DZD 1,804
248.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$4.55DZD 607
161.10%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$0.25DZD 33.44
1492.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.62DZD 83.5
130.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.18DZD 23.59
355.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$0.66DZD 88.0
383.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$1.10DZD 147
517.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.91DZD 122
84.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.13DZD 17.19
1592.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.15DZD 154
48.70%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.40DZD 187
95.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$6.39DZD 854
49.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$4.08DZD 544
120.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$14.79DZD 1,976
-13.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$2.17DZD 290
33.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.09DZD 279
-28.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$1.16DZD 155
85.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$0.99DZD 133
128.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.64DZD 85.9
209.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.39DZD 52.7
410.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.84DZD 112
46.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.28DZD 37.86
328.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$2.59DZD 346
75.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.97DZD 931
48.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.27DZD 170
27.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$1.13DZD 151
154.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$0.40DZD 53.6
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$17.80DZD 2,378
61.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$0.59DZD 79.1
813.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.48DZD 64.6
677.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$5.62DZD 751
2.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$0.36DZD 48.58
327.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$36.0KDZD 4.8M
-37.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$35.2KDZD 4.7M
-25.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$45.71DZD 6,106
99.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$10.84DZD 1,449
132.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$12.69DZD 1,695
146.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$16.82DZD 2,247
299.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$5.79DZD 774
402.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$3.21DZD 429
51.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$118DZD 15.8K
88.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$2,381DZD 318.0K
77.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$33.38DZD 4,459
41.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$35.96DZD 4,804
23.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$58.7DZD 7,842
36.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$58.9DZD 7,864
57.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$97.6DZD 13.0K
988.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$56.1DZD 7,496
595.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$234DZD 31.3K
818.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$198DZD 26.5K
541.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$4,594DZD 613.7K
-12.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$4,034DZD 538.9K
61.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bejaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$217DZD 29.0K
248.75%
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 Bejaia: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $97.6 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 249% 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 $14.00 in Bejaia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $170 – 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 168% 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $710 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 62% 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 $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $118 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 $473, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $473 versus $1,266 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