🙂A single person spends $602 per month in Tebessa vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $984 per month in Tebessa vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,366 per month in Tebessa vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tebessa is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tebessa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tebessa55% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13DZD 415
$11.94MX$208
-73.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.88DZD 3,963
$42.75MX$744
-30.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.94DZD 523
$10.59MX$184
-62.80%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 95.0
$3.62MX$63.0
-80.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88DZD 117
$1.47MX$25.54
-40.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.59
$0.94MX$16.41
-75.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00DZD 265
$3.09MX$53.8
-35.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43DZD 322
$4.46MX$77.6
-45.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DZD 131
$1.43MX$24.80
-30.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15DZD 20.32
$1.88MX$32.79
-92.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63DZD 216
$1.63MX$28.34
-
Eggs
$1.81DZD 240
$2.64MX$45.99
-31.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92DZD 1,183
$8.21MX$143
8.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.37DZD 713
$8.29MX$144
-35.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.46DZD 2,183
$11.10MX$193
48.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12DZD 413
$2.65MX$46.14
17.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84DZD 377
$1.50MX$26.11
89.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77DZD 234
$1.99MX$34.59
-11.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74DZD 98.2
$2.08MX$36.13
-64.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59DZD 78.6
$1.79MX$31.11
-67.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.6
$2.18MX$37.87
-77.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65DZD 86.6
$1.08MX$18.73
-39.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.00
$1.04MX$18.04
-71.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73DZD 363
$3.97MX$69.1
-31.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09DZD 808
$10.20MX$178
-40.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30DZD 172
$1.73MX$30.04
-24.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DZD 286
$2.50MX$43.46
-13.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.40
$0.52MX$9.02
-55.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.59DZD 2,332
$26.97MX$469
-34.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 94.2
$3.14MX$54.7
-77.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.75
$2.40MX$41.80
-85.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.38DZD 714
$3.09MX$53.7
74.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.11
$1.27MX$22.16
-71.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KDZD 4.2M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
3.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KDZD 4.4M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
41.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.25DZD 5,471
$82.0MX$1,427
-49.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.18DZD 1,217
$22.45MX$391
-59.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.13DZD 2,272
$29.66MX$516
-42.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.35DZD 3,097
$51.9MX$903
-54.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.50DZD 730
$4.97MX$86.5
10.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.0DZD 12.7K
$198MX$3,442
-51.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,613DZD 479.1K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-31.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.79DZD 4,879
$36.34MX$632
1.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.64DZD 6,052
$40.05MX$697
13.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.8DZD 9,789
$79.9MX$1,390
-7.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.9DZD 10.2K
$88.9MX$1,547
-13.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191DZD 25.3K
$963MX$16.8K
-80.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$465MX$8,086
-74.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269DZD 35.7K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-83.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 24.0K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-85.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,009DZD 133.8K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-74.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$578DZD 76.6K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-91.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $191 in Tebessa versus $963 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 $30.00 in Tebessa versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $251 – 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 114%, 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 $903 per month in Tebessa and $1,930 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 $602 in Tebessa and $1,287 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 53% 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 $602, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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.