😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $512 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $797 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,082 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 146% more than Djelfa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Djelfa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Djelfa62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$3.17DZD 419
269.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$20.46DZD 2,705
104.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.71DZD 623
123.14%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$0.71DZD 93.4
405.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.55DZD 73.2
174.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.21DZD 27.74
338.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.89DZD 250
56.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.34DZD 309
88.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.92DZD 121
52.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.14DZD 18.67
1242.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.80DZD 238
-13.33%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.43DZD 189
82.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$4.67DZD 617
78.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$3.48DZD 460
139.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$11.07DZD 1,464
-1.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.69DZD 356
0.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.96DZD 392
-48.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.05DZD 139
78.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.55DZD 73.1
298.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.60DZD 79.1
210.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.47DZD 61.7
374.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.39DZD 51.9
174.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.28DZD 36.78
289.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.83DZD 374
48.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$6.96DZD 921
49.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.30DZD 172
27.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.16DZD 286
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.25DZD 33.18
116.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$17.64DZD 2,333
48.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.67DZD 88.4
359.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.33DZD 44.21
627.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$4.03DZD 533
-22.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$0.34DZD 44.65
285.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$35.5KDZD 4.7M
-16.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$33.7KDZD 4.5M
-30.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$41.08DZD 5,431
97.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$9.29DZD 1,228
142.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$18.08DZD 2,391
66.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$15.74DZD 2,081
236.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.28DZD 830
-21.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$94.3DZD 12.5K
113.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$3,592DZD 474.9K
44.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$29.23DZD 3,865
22.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$40.32DZD 5,331
-0.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$65.4DZD 8,644
21.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$76.7DZD 10.1K
12.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$137DZD 18.1K
613.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$76.4DZD 10.1K
516.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$198DZD 26.2K
732.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$109DZD 14.4K
1004.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,156DZD 152.8K
242.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,147DZD 151.6K
476.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$257DZD 34.0K
163.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.42
110.70%
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 Djelfa: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $137 in Djelfa. 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 163% 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 $20.00 in Djelfa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $159 – making Djelfa 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 Djelfa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Djelfa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $512 in Djelfa – roughly 146% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Djelfa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $768 in Djelfa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Djelfa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Djelfa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Djelfa?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Djelfa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Djelfa?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $94.3 in Djelfa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Djelfa, where all-in costs run around $512, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Djelfa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Djelfa?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $512 in Djelfa to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Djelfa safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Djelfa?
If budget matters most, go with Djelfa. 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