😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $478 in Chlef, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $747 in Chlef, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,015 in Chlef, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 166% more than Chlef, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Chlef are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Chlef64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$1.65DZD 218
619.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$23.54DZD 3,121
82.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$1.85DZD 245
475.68%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$0.98DZD 129
252.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.48DZD 63.6
212.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.23DZD 30.57
313.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.08DZD 143
180.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.36DZD 313
95.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.54DZD 71.3
155.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.11DZD 14.70
1581.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.46DZD 194
10.27%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.49DZD 197
73.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$2.98DZD 395
177.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.19DZD 555
99.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$10.58DZD 1,402
0.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$3.10DZD 410
-15.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.86DZD 380
-47.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.35DZD 179
42.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.30DZD 39.82
596.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.36DZD 47.80
416.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.50DZD 66.0
352.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.61DZD 81.2
73.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.30DZD 40.20
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.40DZD 318
72.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$6.84DZD 906
51.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.08DZD 143
59.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.05DZD 272
27.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.18DZD 23.41
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$17.72DZD 2,349
52.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.66DZD 88.0
374.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.36DZD 48.02
597.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$4.03DZD 534
-21.84%
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
$31.5KDZD 4.2M
-3.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$34.2KDZD 4.5M
-31.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$34.38DZD 4,556
141.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$9.42DZD 1,249
141.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$17.90DZD 2,372
64.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$10.87DZD 1,441
369.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$7.27DZD 964
152.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$2.46DZD 327
100.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$70.1DZD 9,289
181.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$1,433DZD 189.9K
268.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$10.74DZD 1,424
243.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$45.74DZD 6,062
-12.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$76.4DZD 10.1K
4.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$44.49DZD 5,897
101.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$198DZD 26.2K
383.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$116DZD 15.3K
312.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$164DZD 21.8K
902.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$115DZD 15.3K
963.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,142DZD 151.4K
242.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,125DZD 149.1K
474.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$447DZD 59.2K
49.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5
128.40%
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 Chlef: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $198 in Chlef. 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 49% 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 Chlef. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $151 – making Chlef 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 Chlef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chlef cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $717 in Chlef. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chlef, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $70.1 in Chlef. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Chlef?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Chlef?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chlef, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Chlef it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Chlef more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chlef – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Chlef?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chlef. 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