😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $626 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $995 in Djemila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,364 in Djemila, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 106% more than Djemila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Djemila are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Djemila53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.22DZD 426
270.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$23.46DZD 3,109
82.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.83DZD 640
119.25%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$0.98DZD 130
269.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.57DZD 75.7
157.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.23DZD 30.50
308.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.99DZD 264
55.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.44DZD 323
82.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.05DZD 139
36.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.17DZD 22.83
1005.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.82DZD 241
-10.44%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.86DZD 246
41.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.78DZD 1,163
-6.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.33DZD 707
55.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$16.80DZD 2,225
-33.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.23DZD 428
-17.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.91DZD 385
-48.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.78DZD 235
11.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.87DZD 116
139.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.60DZD 79.1
198.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.50DZD 66.1
336.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.73DZD 96.2
47.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.30DZD 39.97
246.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.78DZD 369
42.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$7.17DZD 950
42.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.29DZD 171
34.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.14DZD 284
16.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.25DZD 33.25
108.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$17.21DZD 2,280
56.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.66DZD 87.7
375.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.37DZD 48.38
548.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$5.71DZD 757
-45.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.33DZD 44.09
284.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$35.4KDZD 4.7M
-12.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-29.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$40.25DZD 5,333
103.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$9.26DZD 1,227
142.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$17.70DZD 2,345
67.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$23.15DZD 3,067
124.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.21DZD 822
-19.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$94.4DZD 12.5K
109.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$3,628DZD 480.7K
45.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$36.59DZD 4,848
-0.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$45.18DZD 5,986
-11.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$76.3DZD 10.1K
4.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$76.8DZD 10.2K
15.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$193DZD 25.6K
398.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$116DZD 15.4K
301.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$271DZD 35.9K
488.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$182DZD 24.1K
563.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Djemila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Djemila: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $193 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Djemila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $210 – 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 106% 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $939 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $626 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 57% 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 $626, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $626 versus $1,287 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