😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $493 in Chlef, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $736 in Chlef, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $979 in Chlef, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 156% 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, Chlef63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.64DZD 216
614.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$23.71DZD 3,135
76.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$1.80DZD 238
483.89%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$0.95DZD 126
277.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.47DZD 62.5
221.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.21DZD 27.63
338.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.14DZD 151
159.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.31DZD 305
90.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.54DZD 71.2
159.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.11DZD 14.55
1609.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.47DZD 194
6.12%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.49DZD 197
75.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$3.01DZD 398
176.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.39DZD 580
90.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$10.52DZD 1,390
3.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.05DZD 404
-11.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.79DZD 369
-45.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.43DZD 188
30.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.30DZD 39.88
630.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.36DZD 48.11
416.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.46DZD 61.2
384.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.62DZD 82.5
72.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.28DZD 36.84
289.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.46DZD 325
70.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.86DZD 907
52.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.07DZD 141
55.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.97DZD 260
32.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.18DZD 23.96
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$17.07DZD 2,257
53.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.65DZD 85.7
373.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.36DZD 47.78
566.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$3.88DZD 513
-19.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.34DZD 45.52
285.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$32.2KDZD 4.3M
-7.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.3KDZD 4.5M
-31.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$34.41DZD 4,550
136.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$9.30DZD 1,230
142.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$17.92DZD 2,369
67.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$11.05DZD 1,461
378.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$7.16DZD 947
156.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$2.56DZD 339
92.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$69.5DZD 9,189
188.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,445DZD 191.1K
258.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$10.70DZD 1,415
235.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$45.81DZD 6,057
-12.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$74.7DZD 9,870
6.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$43.30DZD 5,725
99.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$198DZD 26.1K
395.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$114DZD 15.1K
311.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$167DZD 22.1K
889.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$113DZD 15.0K
962.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,122DZD 148.4K
252.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,143DZD 151.1K
478.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Chlef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$462DZD 61.1K
46.34%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Chlef: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 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 46% 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 $24.00 in Chlef. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 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 156%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $739 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $69.5 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 67% 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 $493, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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