😐A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $615 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $982 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,349 in Djemila, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 110% more than Djemila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Djemila are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Djemila54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$3.22DZD 426
264.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$23.72DZD 3,146
76.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$4.69DZD 621
121.96%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$1.03DZD 137
250.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.57DZD 75.5
156.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$0.21DZD 27.76
361.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$1.98DZD 262
47.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$2.36DZD 313
95.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$1.04DZD 138
37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$0.16DZD 21.16
1087.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$1.81DZD 241
-13.26%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$1.80DZD 238
46.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$8.92DZD 1,183
-5.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$5.34DZD 708
60.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$16.56DZD 2,196
-33.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$3.09DZD 410
-12.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$2.81DZD 372
-46.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$1.72DZD 228
11.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$0.90DZD 120
141.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.59DZD 78.1
216.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$0.49DZD 65.1
355.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.68DZD 90.7
58.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.30DZD 40.23
256.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$2.77DZD 367
50.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$7.04DZD 934
46.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.30DZD 173
29.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$2.08DZD 276
21.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.25DZD 33.29
120.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$17.21DZD 2,282
52.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$0.65DZD 86.4
392.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.36DZD 47.83
583.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$5.54DZD 734
-42.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$0.36DZD 48.20
266.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-16.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$34.3KDZD 4.5M
-31.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$40.15DZD 5,324
102.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$9.27DZD 1,229
141.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$18.12DZD 2,403
65.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$23.25DZD 3,084
121.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$6.25DZD 829
-17.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$93.2DZD 12.4K
116.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$3,617DZD 479.6K
46.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$36.78DZD 4,877
-3.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$44.88DZD 5,952
-10.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$73.9DZD 9,798
6.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$77.8DZD 10.3K
11.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$195DZD 25.9K
386.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$115DZD 15.2K
317.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$272DZD 36.1K
494.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$185DZD 24.5K
561.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$1,070DZD 141.9K
274.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$988DZD 131.1K
554.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
-
-
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 Djemila: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $195 in Djemila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Djemila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $207 – making Djemila 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 Djemila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Djemila?
Playa del Carmen costs about 110% more than Djemila, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Djemila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $922 in Djemila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Djemila?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Djemila, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Djemila?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $615 in Djemila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Djemila?
Public transport costs about 53% less in Djemila. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Djemila?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Djemila, where all-in costs run around $615, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Djemila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Djemila?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Djemila costs $615 versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Djemila?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Djemila?
If budget matters most, go with Djemila. 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