🙂A single person spends $625 per month in Tebessa vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,010 per month in Tebessa vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,395 per month in Tebessa vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tebessa is about 52% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tebessa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tebessa53% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14DZD 417
$11.73MX$202
-73.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.35DZD 3,892
$41.78MX$719
-29.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.90DZD 517
$10.41MX$179
-62.54%
Cappuccino
$0.78DZD 104
$3.61MX$62.1
-78.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88DZD 117
$1.46MX$25.06
-39.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.78
$0.97MX$16.70
-78.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92DZD 255
$2.92MX$50.3
-34.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32DZD 308
$4.62MX$79.5
-49.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03DZD 136
$1.43MX$24.59
-27.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 21.86
$1.90MX$32.70
-91.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.57MX$26.95
1.27%
Eggs
$1.80DZD 238
$2.64MX$45.34
-31.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18DZD 1,217
$8.44MX$145
8.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28DZD 700
$8.58MX$148
-38.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.67DZD 2,211
$11.00MX$189
51.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06DZD 405
$2.70MX$46.51
13.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.93DZD 388
$1.51MX$25.92
94.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77DZD 235
$1.91MX$32.93
-7.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78DZD 104
$2.17MX$37.37
-64.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.5
$1.87MX$32.25
-68.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.3
$2.23MX$38.43
-78.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.3
$1.08MX$18.60
-43.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 37.04
$1.07MX$18.47
-73.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68DZD 355
$4.16MX$71.6
-35.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.91DZD 916
$10.29MX$177
-32.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 171
$1.68MX$28.95
-23.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18DZD 289
$2.53MX$43.59
-13.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.26
$0.55MX$9.53
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.63DZD 2,338
$26.29MX$452
-32.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70DZD 92.3
$3.20MX$55.0
-78.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37DZD 48.42
$2.46MX$42.37
-84.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.32DZD 705
$3.20MX$55.0
66.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.90
$1.32MX$22.72
-74.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KDZD 4.4M
$30.2KMX$518.8K
9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KDZD 4.4M
$23.4KMX$402.5K
43.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.30DZD 5,477
$81.4MX$1,400
-49.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.21DZD 1,221
$22.41MX$386
-58.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25DZD 2,287
$29.97MX$516
-42.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.19DZD 3,075
$51.6MX$887
-55.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$316
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46DZD 724
$5.16MX$88.9
5.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8DZD 12.4K
$202MX$3,471
-53.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,528DZD 467.9K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-33.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.10DZD 4,919
$35.61MX$613
4.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.96DZD 6,095
$40.37MX$695
13.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7DZD 9,902
$78.6MX$1,353
-5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0DZD 10.2K
$86.9MX$1,495
-11.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192DZD 25.5K
$950MX$16.3K
-79.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$478MX$8,227
-75.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275DZD 36.4K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-83.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186DZD 24.6K
$1,223MX$21.0K
-84.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,150DZD 152.6K
$4,009MX$69.0K
-71.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,138DZD 150.9K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-82.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$673MX$11.6K
-
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 Tebessa: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $192 in Tebessa versus $950 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Tebessa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $254 – 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
Tebessa vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tebessa?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 107%, 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 $938 per month in Tebessa and $1,941 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Tebessa vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $625 in Tebessa and $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Tebessa or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tebessa, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Tebessa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tebessa or Playa del Carmen 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, Tebessa or Playa del Carmen?
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.