😐A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $515 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $802 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,088 in Djelfa, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 151% more than Djelfa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Djelfa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Djelfa61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$3.25DZD 431
260.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$20.85DZD 2,765
100.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$4.62DZD 613
125.32%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$0.77DZD 102
368.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.60DZD 79.0
143.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$0.21DZD 27.80
361.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$1.97DZD 261
48.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$2.36DZD 313
95.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$0.91DZD 120
57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$0.14DZD 18.99
1257.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$1.75DZD 233
-10.29%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$1.49DZD 198
77.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$4.50DZD 597
87.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$3.32DZD 441
158.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$11.32DZD 1,501
-2.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$2.73DZD 362
-1.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$2.81DZD 372
-46.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$1.07DZD 142
78.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$0.56DZD 73.8
287.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.57DZD 75.2
228.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$0.50DZD 65.8
346.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.40DZD 52.4
170.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.30DZD 40.26
256.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$2.80DZD 372
48.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$6.92DZD 918
48.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.34DZD 178
25.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$2.18DZD 289
16.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.25DZD 33.28
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$17.07DZD 2,263
54.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$0.70DZD 92.4
357.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.36DZD 47.80
583.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$4.03DZD 534
-20.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$0.37DZD 48.42
256.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$35.5KDZD 4.7M
-15.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$34.0KDZD 4.5M
-31.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$40.85DZD 5,417
99.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$9.32DZD 1,235
140.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$18.08DZD 2,398
65.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$15.88DZD 2,106
224.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$6.30DZD 835
-18.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$92.8DZD 12.3K
117.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$3,605DZD 478.1K
47.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$29.08DZD 3,857
22.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$39.55DZD 5,244
2.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$65.3DZD 8,658
20.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$78.3DZD 10.4K
10.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$138DZD 18.2K
590.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$75.2DZD 9,978
535.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$194DZD 25.8K
733.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$109DZD 14.5K
1019.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$1,136DZD 150.7K
252.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$1,155DZD 153.2K
460.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Djelfa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$270DZD 35.8K
149.48%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Djelfa: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $138 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 149% 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 $21.00 in Djelfa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $158 – 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 Djelfa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, $515 in Djelfa – roughly 151% 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $773 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 Djelfa?
Public transport costs about 54% 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 $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $92.8 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 $515, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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 $515 in Djelfa to $1,294 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