Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tebessa Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Tebessa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $604 in Tebessa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $991 in Tebessa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,377 in Tebessa, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 109% more than Tebessa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Tebessa are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Tebessa 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$3.15 DZD 416
272.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$29.93 DZD 3,957
39.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$3.97 DZD 525
164.74%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$0.72 DZD 94.8
398.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.89 DZD 118
69.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.21 DZD 27.75
338.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$1.90 DZD 251
55.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$2.33 DZD 308
89.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$0.98 DZD 130
42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$0.17 DZD 22.46
1005.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$1.56 DZD 206
-
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$1.82 DZD 240
43.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$8.92 DZD 1,179
-6.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$5.44 DZD 720
53.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$16.54 DZD 2,187
-34.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$3.07 DZD 406
-11.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$2.92 DZD 386
-48.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$1.69 DZD 223
10.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$0.75 DZD 99.6
192.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$0.56 DZD 73.7
232.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$0.49 DZD 64.8
355.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.62 DZD 81.4
72.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.30 DZD 40.17
263.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$2.69 DZD 355
55.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$5.98 DZD 791
74.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.31 DZD 173
26.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$2.08 DZD 275
25.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.23 DZD 30.19
134.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$17.60 DZD 2,327
48.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$0.69 DZD 91.3
346.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.36 DZD 47.82
566.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$5.36 DZD 709
-41.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$0.36 DZD 48.10
263.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$32.2K DZD 4.3M
-7.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$34.0K DZD 4.5M
-31.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$40.95 DZD 5,415
98.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$9.37 DZD 1,238
140.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$17.26 DZD 2,282
74.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$22.86 DZD 3,022
131.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$5.34 DZD 706
-7.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$93.7 DZD 12.4K
114.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$3,620 DZD 478.6K
42.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$37.40 DZD 4,945
-3.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$45.21 DZD 5,978
-11.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$76.2 DZD 10.1K
4.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$77.7 DZD 10.3K
11.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$191 DZD 25.2K
412.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$115 DZD 15.2K
309.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$274 DZD 36.2K
503.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$180 DZD 23.8K
569.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$1,142 DZD 151.1K
246.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,153 DZD 152.5K
472.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Tebessa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
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 Tebessa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $191 in Tebessa. 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 $30.00 in Tebessa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $203 – making Tebessa 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 Tebessa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tebessa cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 109%, 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 $906 in Tebessa. 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 Tebessa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Tebessa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $604 in Tebessa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 49% less in Tebessa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Tebessa?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tebessa, where all-in costs run around $604, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Tebessa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Tebessa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tebessa – 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 Tebessa?
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 Tebessa. 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.

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