🙂A single person spends $559 per month in Tebessa vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $909 per month in Tebessa vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,260 per month in Tebessa vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Tebessa is about 56% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Tebessa and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Tebessa59% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32DZD 444
$11.60MX$200
-71.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.41DZD 4,063
$47.11MX$812
-35.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.12DZD 551
$11.88MX$205
-65.32%
Cappuccino
$0.74DZD 99.4
$3.98MX$68.6
-81.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88DZD 117
$1.43MX$24.60
-38.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 36.90
$0.82MX$14.22
-65.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55DZD 208
$3.19MX$55.0
-51.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07DZD 277
$6.79MX$117
-69.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90DZD 120
$1.68MX$28.89
-46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 19.30
$2.20MX$37.88
-93.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16DZD 155
$1.71MX$29.45
-32.16%
Eggs
$1.40DZD 187
$2.74MX$47.26
-48.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11DZD 1,084
$9.58MX$165
-15.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.12DZD 551
$9.01MX$155
-54.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.84DZD 1,982
$12.81MX$221
15.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19DZD 293
$2.89MX$49.81
-24.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83DZD 378
$1.50MX$25.81
88.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23DZD 165
$2.15MX$37.03
-42.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95DZD 127
$2.26MX$38.96
-57.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60DZD 80.5
$1.98MX$34.15
-69.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52DZD 68.9
$1.99MX$34.30
-73.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67DZD 89.4
$1.23MX$21.28
-45.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28DZD 37.45
$1.20MX$20.63
-76.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68DZD 358
$4.55MX$78.5
-41.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.32DZD 978
$10.37MX$179
-29.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12DZD 149
$1.62MX$27.91
-30.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10DZD 280
$2.88MX$49.67
-27.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15DZD 20.23
$0.60MX$10.35
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.84DZD 914
$28.80MX$497
-76.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56DZD 75.3
$5.39MX$92.9
-89.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35DZD 46.51
$3.73MX$64.3
-90.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.65DZD 754
$5.77MX$99.5
-2.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 45.27
$1.54MX$26.48
-77.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8KDZD 5.3M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
76.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KDZD 4.3M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
23.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.85DZD 5,189
$91.4MX$1,576
-57.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.16DZD 1,224
$25.20MX$435
-63.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.92DZD 1,593
$31.24MX$539
-61.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.41DZD 2,727
$67.2MX$1,159
-69.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.88DZD 652
$4.86MX$83.8
0.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108DZD 14.5K
$224MX$3,856
-51.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,960DZD 395.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
-30.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.91DZD 4,397
$47.10MX$812
-30.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.41DZD 5,131
$44.29MX$764
-13.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1DZD 8,833
$80.1MX$1,381
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.7DZD 10.1K
$92.7MX$1,598
-18.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$144DZD 19.2K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-86.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$109DZD 14.5K
$390MX$6,728
-72.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279DZD 37.3K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-87.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$216DZD 28.8K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-83.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,298DZD 173.4K
$4,001MX$69.0K
-67.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$573DZD 76.6K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-91.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
11.45
-53.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tebessa: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $144 in Tebessa versus $1,063 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $276 – 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 127%, 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 $838 per month in Tebessa and $1,899 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $559 in Tebessa and $1,266 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 321% less in Tebessa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tebessa or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tebessa, where all-in costs run around $559, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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.