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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $441 in Chlef, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $698 in Chlef, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $954 in Chlef, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 187% more than Chlef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Chlef are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Chlef 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$199
$1.68 DZD 223
590.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$809
$28.39 DZD 3,786
65.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$204
$1.82 DZD 243
552.75%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.2
$0.95 DZD 127
318.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.49
$0.48 DZD 63.4
197.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.16
$0.25 DZD 33.39
228.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.7
$1.07 DZD 143
198.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.26 DZD 301
200.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.76
$0.49 DZD 65.4
242.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.71
$0.12 DZD 16.51
1733.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.32
$1.15 DZD 154
48.70%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.05
$1.41 DZD 188
94.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$164
$2.98 DZD 397
221.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$4.18 DZD 557
115.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$220
$10.58 DZD 1,411
21.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.58
$2.15 DZD 286
34.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.70
$2.85 DZD 380
-47.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.87
$1.16 DZD 154
85.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.79
$0.28 DZD 37.29
707.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.00
$0.33 DZD 43.38
500.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.15
$0.51 DZD 67.6
290.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.18
$0.67 DZD 88.7
83.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.54
$0.26 DZD 34.28
361.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.1
$2.50 DZD 333
82.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$178
$6.82 DZD 910
52.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.79
$1.04 DZD 139
55.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.44
$1.93 DZD 257
49.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.30
$0.18 DZD 24.14
233.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$494
$6.25 DZD 834
360.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.5
$0.59 DZD 79.2
813.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.0
$0.45 DZD 60.3
728.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.0
$3.89 DZD 519
48.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.37
$0.32 DZD 42.52
381.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$387.0K
$31.8K DZD 4.2M
-29.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$447.3K
$35.8K DZD 4.8M
-27.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,569
$34.08 DZD 4,546
168.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$433
$10.80 DZD 1,441
133.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$536
$12.51 DZD 1,669
149.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,154
$10.87 DZD 1,450
518.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$500
$14.95 DZD 1,993
94.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.5
$2.60 DZD 347
86.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,839
$68.8 DZD 9,173
225.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.6K
$1,479 DZD 197.2K
186.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$808
$10.72 DZD 1,430
339.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$760
$35.65 DZD 4,755
24.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,375
$72.6 DZD 9,682
10.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,591
$42.69 DZD 5,693
117.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.2K
$156 DZD 20.8K
581.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,698
$106 DZD 14.1K
268.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$36.9K
$168 DZD 22.4K
1181.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.8K
$113 DZD 15.1K
1024.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.7K
$1,310 DZD 174.7K
205.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$111.6K
$508 DZD 67.7K
1180.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.0K
$443 DZD 59.1K
71.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5
129.00%

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 Chlef: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $156 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 71% 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 $28.00 in Chlef. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $142 – 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 187%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $662 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 $224 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 in Chlef?
Groceries cost about 94% 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Chlef?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chlef, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.

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