Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidi Bel Abbes and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidi Bel Abbes and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $952 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,289 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sidi Bel Abbes is about 51% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sidi Bel Abbes and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sidi Bel Abbes 54% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.28 DZD 434

$11.72 MX$203

-72.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 DZD 2,796

$41.89 MX$725

-49.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 DZD 519

$10.51 MX$182

-62.61%

Cappuccino

$0.37 DZD 49.31

$3.59 MX$62.0

-89.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 DZD 79.3

$1.51 MX$26.10

-60.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 DZD 35.53

$0.92 MX$15.83

-70.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 DZD 261

$2.96 MX$51.2

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 DZD 310

$4.41 MX$76.3

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 DZD 135

$1.40 MX$24.16

-27.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.07 DZD 9.45

$1.88 MX$32.60

-96.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 DZD 207

$1.56 MX$26.97

0.64%

Eggs

$1.81 DZD 239

$2.61 MX$45.14

-30.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.12 DZD 1,205

$8.32 MX$144

9.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 DZD 685

$8.35 MX$145

-37.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.64 DZD 2,200

$10.86 MX$188

53.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 DZD 409

$2.71 MX$46.93

14.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 DZD 380

$1.51 MX$26.04

90.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 DZD 224

$1.87 MX$32.41

-9.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 DZD 106

$2.19 MX$37.89

-63.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 DZD 73.5

$1.86 MX$32.14

-69.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 DZD 65.5

$2.23 MX$38.59

-77.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 DZD 86.7

$1.07 MX$18.48

-38.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 DZD 49.56

$1.09 MX$18.79

-66.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 DZD 361

$4.19 MX$72.4

-34.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 DZD 1,202

$10.43 MX$180

-12.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 DZD 179

$1.66 MX$28.68

-18.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 DZD 283

$2.61 MX$45.19

-18.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 DZD 29.96

$0.54 MX$9.37

-57.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.09 DZD 2,259

$26.16 MX$453

-34.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 DZD 97.5

$3.08 MX$53.3

-75.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 DZD 48.31

$2.40 MX$41.61

-84.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.35 DZD 707

$3.13 MX$54.1

70.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 DZD 44.82

$1.31 MX$22.69

-74.05%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K DZD 4.2M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

7.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.1K DZD 4.5M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

46.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.09 DZD 5,300

$81.3 MX$1,406

-50.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.37 DZD 1,238

$22.56 MX$390

-58.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.83 DZD 2,226

$30.05 MX$520

-43.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.04 DZD 2,385

$52.9 MX$915

-65.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$5.42 DZD 717

$4.92 MX$85.1

10.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$95.2 DZD 12.6K

$201 MX$3,474

-52.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,660 DZD 483.9K

$5,175 MX$89.5K

-29.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 DZD 4,880

$35.92 MX$622

2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.81 DZD 5,925

$40.13 MX$694

11.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 DZD 10.0K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.3 DZD 10.4K

$86.5 MX$1,496

-9.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$194 DZD 25.7K

$978 MX$16.9K

-80.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 DZD 15.4K

$470 MX$8,140

-75.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 DZD 36.3K

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-83.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 DZD 23.9K

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-84.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,192 DZD 157.6K

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-69.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,281 DZD 169.4K

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-80.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$350 DZD 46.2K

$677 MX$11.7K

-48.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.42

11.42

-52.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. 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 93% 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 $21.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $252 – making Sidi Bel Abbes 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

Sidi Bel Abbes vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 105%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $921 per month in Sidi Bel Abbes and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Bel Abbes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $614 in Sidi Bel Abbes and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 53% less in Sidi Bel Abbes. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Bel Abbes, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Sidi Bel Abbes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sidi Bel Abbes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sidi Bel Abbes. 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.