Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chlef Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Chlef

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $490 in Chlef, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $737 in Chlef, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $983 in Chlef, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 163% more than Chlef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Chlef are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Chlef 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$1.71 DZD 227
598.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$23.95 DZD 3,173
78.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$1.86 DZD 247
469.35%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$0.93 DZD 123
289.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.48 DZD 63.3
206.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.23 DZD 30.60
308.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$1.14 DZD 151
171.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$2.31 DZD 306
93.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$0.54 DZD 72.0
164.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$0.11 DZD 15.24
1609.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$1.53 DZD 202
6.54%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.44 DZD 191
83.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$2.88 DZD 382
185.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$4.23 DZD 560
95.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$10.56 DZD 1,400
5.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$3.21 DZD 425
-17.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.86 DZD 379
-47.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$1.37 DZD 181
45.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$0.28 DZD 36.90
642.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$0.36 DZD 47.85
397.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$0.49 DZD 65.4
344.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$0.66 DZD 87.8
63.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.30 DZD 39.88
246.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$2.46 DZD 327
61.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$6.85 DZD 907
48.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.08 DZD 143
60.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$1.96 DZD 259
27.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.15 DZD 19.45
246.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$17.32 DZD 2,295
55.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$0.66 DZD 87.7
375.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$0.33 DZD 44.12
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$3.98 DZD 528
-22.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$0.35 DZD 45.82
262.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$31.7K DZD 4.2M
-2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$33.2K DZD 4.4M
-29.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$33.64 DZD 4,457
143.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$9.41 DZD 1,247
138.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$17.71 DZD 2,346
67.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$10.93 DZD 1,448
374.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$6.99 DZD 926
167.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$2.59 DZD 344
91.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$68.8 DZD 9,121
187.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$1,455 DZD 192.8K
262.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$10.82 DZD 1,434
235.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$44.70 DZD 5,923
-10.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$76.2 DZD 10.1K
4.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$43.65 DZD 5,784
103.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$197 DZD 26.1K
389.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$115 DZD 15.3K
302.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$164 DZD 21.7K
876.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$113 DZD 14.9K
973.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$1,020 DZD 135.1K
286.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$522 DZD 69.2K
1134.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$449 DZD 59.5K
60.52%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chlef: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $197 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 61% 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: $251 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 163%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $735 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $68.8 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 $490, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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

Similar cities