Cost of Living Comparison Between Souk Ahras and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Souk Ahras and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $559 per month in Souk Ahras vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $858 per month in Souk Ahras vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,158 per month in Souk Ahras vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Souk Ahras is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Souk Ahras and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Souk Ahras 58% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 DZD 314

$11.72 MX$204

-79.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.80 DZD 1,430

$41.89 MX$731

-74.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.96 DZD 525

$10.51 MX$183

-62.32%

Cappuccino

$0.67 DZD 88.5

$3.59 MX$62.5

-81.34%

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

$0.50 DZD 65.7

$1.51 MX$26.31

-66.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 DZD 30.53

$0.92 MX$15.96

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 DZD 262

$2.96 MX$51.6

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 DZD 309

$4.41 MX$76.9

-46.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 DZD 117

$1.40 MX$24.35

-37.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 DZD 30.20

$1.88 MX$32.87

-87.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 DZD 164

$1.56 MX$27.19

-20.51%

Eggs

$1.97 DZD 260

$2.61 MX$45.50

-24.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 DZD 441

$8.32 MX$145

-59.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.79 DZD 369

$8.35 MX$146

-66.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.98 DZD 2,248

$10.86 MX$189

56.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 DZD 207

$2.71 MX$47.31

-42.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.07 DZD 406

$1.51 MX$26.25

103.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 DZD 162

$1.87 MX$32.67

-34.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 DZD 156

$2.19 MX$38.19

-46.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 DZD 57.0

$1.86 MX$32.40

-76.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 DZD 54.7

$2.23 MX$38.90

-81.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.25 DZD 33.33

$1.07 MX$18.63

-76.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 DZD 38.69

$1.09 MX$18.94

-73.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 DZD 293

$4.19 MX$73.0

-47.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.88 DZD 778

$10.43 MX$182

-43.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 DZD 179

$1.66 MX$28.91

-18.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 DZD 289

$2.61 MX$45.56

-16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 DZD 23.26

$0.54 MX$9.45

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.55 DZD 2,323

$26.16 MX$456

-32.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 DZD 86.6

$3.08 MX$53.7

-78.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 DZD 59.2

$2.40 MX$41.94

-81.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 DZD 693

$3.13 MX$54.5

67.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 DZD 40.97

$1.31 MX$22.87

-76.34%

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

$32.5K DZD 4.3M

$29.8K MX$519.9K

8.92%

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

$33.1K DZD 4.4M

$23.3K MX$406.8K

41.85%

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

$41.11 DZD 5,440

$81.3 MX$1,418

-49.42%

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

$9.53 DZD 1,261

$22.56 MX$393

-57.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.24 DZD 2,679

$30.05 MX$524

-32.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.20 DZD 1,614

$52.9 MX$923

-76.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.90 DZD 516

$18.39 MX$321

-78.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.50 DZD 727

$4.92 MX$85.8

11.79%

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

$93.0 DZD 12.3K

$201 MX$3,502

-53.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,590 DZD 475.2K

$5,175 MX$90.2K

-30.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.12 DZD 4,118

$35.92 MX$627

-13.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.62 DZD 6,037

$40.13 MX$700

13.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 DZD 10.4K

$79.7 MX$1,390

-1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 DZD 10.6K

$86.5 MX$1,508

-7.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 DZD 26.2K

$978 MX$17.1K

-79.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 DZD 15.3K

$470 MX$8,206

-75.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 DZD 39.8K

$1,651 MX$28.8K

-81.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 DZD 24.2K

$1,203 MX$21.0K

-84.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,147 DZD 151.8K

$3,953 MX$69.0K

-70.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,113 DZD 147.3K

$6,607 MX$115.2K

-83.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$296 DZD 39.2K

$677 MX$11.8K

-56.26%

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 Souk Ahras: July 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Souk Ahras 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 129% 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 $11.00 in Souk Ahras versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $252 – making Souk Ahras 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

Souk Ahras vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 125%, 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 $838 per month in Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras, 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 $559 in Souk Ahras 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 49% less in Souk Ahras. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Souk Ahras, where all-in costs run around $559, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Souk Ahras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Souk Ahras – 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 Souk Ahras. 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.