🙂A single person spends $604 per month in Tebessa vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $991 per month in Tebessa vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,377 per month in Tebessa vs $2,990 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 – Tebessa55% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.15DZD 416
$11.72MX$203
-73.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.93DZD 3,957
$41.89MX$725
-28.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.97DZD 525
$10.51MX$182
-62.23%
Cappuccino
$0.72DZD 94.8
$3.59MX$62.0
-79.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89DZD 118
$1.51MX$26.10
-41.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.75
$0.92MX$15.83
-77.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90DZD 251
$2.96MX$51.2
-35.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33DZD 308
$4.41MX$76.3
-47.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98DZD 130
$1.40MX$24.16
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17DZD 22.46
$1.88MX$32.60
-90.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56DZD 206
$1.56MX$26.97
-
Eggs
$1.82DZD 240
$2.61MX$45.14
-30.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92DZD 1,179
$8.32MX$144
7.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44DZD 720
$8.35MX$145
-34.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.54DZD 2,187
$10.86MX$188
52.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07DZD 406
$2.71MX$46.93
13.28%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92DZD 386
$1.51MX$26.04
93.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69DZD 223
$1.87MX$32.41
-9.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75DZD 99.6
$2.19MX$37.89
-65.75%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 73.7
$1.86MX$32.14
-69.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 64.8
$2.23MX$38.59
-78.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62DZD 81.4
$1.07MX$18.48
-42.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.17
$1.09MX$18.79
-72.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69DZD 355
$4.19MX$72.4
-35.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98DZD 791
$10.43MX$180
-42.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31DZD 173
$1.66MX$28.68
-21.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 275
$2.61MX$45.19
-20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.19
$0.54MX$9.37
-57.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.60DZD 2,327
$26.16MX$453
-32.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69DZD 91.3
$3.08MX$53.3
-77.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 47.82
$2.40MX$41.61
-85.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.36DZD 709
$3.13MX$54.1
71.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.10
$1.31MX$22.69
-72.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KDZD 4.3M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KDZD 4.5M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
45.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.95DZD 5,415
$81.3MX$1,406
-49.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.37DZD 1,238
$22.56MX$390
-58.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.26DZD 2,282
$30.05MX$520
-42.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.86DZD 3,022
$52.9MX$915
-56.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.34DZD 706
$4.92MX$85.1
8.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7DZD 12.4K
$201MX$3,474
-53.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,620DZD 478.6K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-30.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.40DZD 4,945
$35.92MX$622
4.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.21DZD 5,978
$40.13MX$694
12.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2DZD 10.1K
$79.7MX$1,379
-4.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7DZD 10.3K
$86.5MX$1,496
-10.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191DZD 25.2K
$978MX$16.9K
-80.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115DZD 15.2K
$470MX$8,140
-75.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274DZD 36.2K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-83.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180DZD 23.8K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-85.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,142DZD 151.1K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-71.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,153DZD 152.5K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-82.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tebessa
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $191 in Tebessa 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Tebessa versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $252 – 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 109%, 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 $906 per month in Tebessa and $1,890 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 $604 in Tebessa and $1,260 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 living in Tebessa or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tebessa, where all-in costs run around $604, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.