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 $549 per month in Souk Ahras vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $837 per month in Souk Ahras vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,126 per month in Souk Ahras vs $2,999 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 59% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 DZD 325

$11.67 MX$202

-78.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 DZD 1,407

$41.88 MX$726

-74.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.80 DZD 503

$10.40 MX$180

-63.46%

Cappuccino

$0.67 DZD 88.5

$3.61 MX$62.6

-81.44%

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

$0.51 DZD 67.3

$1.47 MX$25.45

-65.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 DZD 27.78

$0.91 MX$15.80

-76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 DZD 253

$3.03 MX$52.6

-36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 DZD 318

$4.47 MX$77.4

-46.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 DZD 115

$1.38 MX$23.83

-36.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 DZD 26.33

$1.84 MX$31.93

-89.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 DZD 164

$1.61 MX$27.82

-22.98%

Eggs

$1.89 DZD 250

$2.57 MX$44.52

-26.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 DZD 452

$8.49 MX$147

-59.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.80 DZD 371

$8.49 MX$147

-67.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 DZD 2,186

$10.99 MX$190

50.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 DZD 204

$2.73 MX$47.25

-43.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.98 DZD 394

$1.50 MX$25.92

98.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 DZD 160

$1.96 MX$33.93

-38.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 DZD 162

$2.12 MX$36.70

-41.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 DZD 54.0

$1.86 MX$32.30

-77.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 DZD 51.0

$2.17 MX$37.67

-82.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.23 DZD 30.40

$1.07 MX$18.59

-78.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 DZD 38.86

$1.05 MX$18.18

-72.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 DZD 288

$4.19 MX$72.6

-48.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 DZD 1,027

$10.28 MX$178

-24.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 DZD 173

$1.67 MX$28.87

-21.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 DZD 283

$2.49 MX$43.12

-14.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 DZD 29.14

$0.54 MX$9.37

-59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.09 DZD 2,262

$26.27 MX$455

-34.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 DZD 91.8

$3.10 MX$53.8

-77.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 DZD 58.9

$2.46 MX$42.66

-82.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.29 DZD 699

$3.24 MX$56.1

63.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 DZD 43.94

$1.26 MX$21.83

-73.81%

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

$32.5K DZD 4.3M

$30.2K MX$522.8K

7.83%

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

$33.8K DZD 4.5M

$23.4K MX$406.3K

44.22%

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

$40.55 DZD 5,367

$84.0 MX$1,456

-51.72%

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

$9.58 DZD 1,268

$22.21 MX$385

-56.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.65 DZD 2,601

$29.65 MX$514

-33.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.11 DZD 1,603

$52.6 MX$912

-76.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 DZD 519

$18.34 MX$318

-78.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.45 DZD 721

$4.95 MX$85.7

10.10%

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

$93.2 DZD 12.3K

$198 MX$3,438

-53.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,576 DZD 473.2K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

-32.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.46 DZD 4,031

$35.95 MX$623

-15.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.74 DZD 5,921

$40.06 MX$694

11.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 DZD 10.7K

$78.8 MX$1,365

2.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 DZD 10.4K

$86.5 MX$1,499

-8.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$194 DZD 25.7K

$977 MX$16.9K

-80.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 DZD 15.2K

$471 MX$8,158

-75.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 DZD 40.3K

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-80.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 DZD 23.7K

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-85.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$309 DZD 40.9K

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-92.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$283 DZD 37.4K

$6,579 MX$114.0K

-95.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 DZD 40.6K

$714 MX$12.4K

-57.01%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Souk Ahras versus $977 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 133% 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 in Souk Ahras versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 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 130%, 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 $823 per month in Souk Ahras and $1,891 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 $549 in Souk Ahras and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 54% 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 $549, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.