πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,032 in Antakya versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,608 in Antakya versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,184 in Antakya versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Antakya costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Antakya23% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.81βΊ359
$11.73MX$203
-33.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.01βΊ1,379
$41.62MX$720
-27.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.05βΊ324
$10.64MX$184
-33.74%
Cappuccino
$3.61βΊ166
$3.52MX$60.9
2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20βΊ55.0
$1.51MX$26.12
-20.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39βΊ17.99
$0.97MX$16.84
-59.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.63βΊ167
$2.95MX$51.0
23.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48βΊ160
$4.45MX$77.0
-21.80%
π Groceries & Markets
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05βΊ48.11
$1.38MX$23.93
-23.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47βΊ21.66
$1.89MX$32.72
-75.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04βΊ93.6
$1.64MX$28.32
24.39%
Eggs
$2.71βΊ124
$2.51MX$43.34
7.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.57βΊ532
$8.34MX$144
38.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.00βΊ230
$8.34MX$144
-40.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.88βΊ959
$10.73MX$186
94.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19βΊ54.7
$2.60MX$45.04
-54.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09βΊ96.2
$1.46MX$25.20
43.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04βΊ47.72
$1.90MX$32.87
-45.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20βΊ55.1
$2.08MX$35.91
-42.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85βΊ39.17
$1.78MX$30.71
-52.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82βΊ37.61
$2.19MX$37.80
-62.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69βΊ31.91
$1.04MX$17.99
-33.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38βΊ17.60
$1.08MX$18.62
-64.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11βΊ97.1
$4.08MX$70.6
-48.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.02βΊ506
$10.32MX$178
6.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59βΊ119
$1.71MX$29.61
51.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61βΊ166
$2.58MX$44.54
39.92%
π Getting Around
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63βΊ28.83
$0.51MX$8.81
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.33βΊ1,394
$26.46MX$458
14.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09βΊ49.95
$3.26MX$56.4
-66.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60βΊ27.76
$2.49MX$43.09
-75.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.49βΊ344
$3.25MX$56.2
130.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12βΊ51.3
$1.31MX$22.61
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5KβΊ2.0M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
43.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2KβΊ2.0M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
84.37%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.5βΊ2,824
$82.9MX$1,433
-25.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.93βΊ410
$22.22MX$384
-59.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.96βΊ412
$29.34MX$507
-69.46%
π Sport & Entertainment
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.94βΊ2,019
$51.6MX$893
-14.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.49βΊ114
$5.07MX$87.6
-50.89%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$617βΊ28.3K
$201MX$3,473
207.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,059βΊ416.2K
$5,212MX$90.1K
73.83%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.23βΊ884
$36.92MX$639
-47.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.53βΊ1,173
$39.79MX$688
-35.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3βΊ3,504
$78.5MX$1,357
-2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.3βΊ2,356
$87.1MX$1,506
-41.12%
π Accommodation & Living
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507βΊ23.3K
$973MX$16.8K
-47.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397βΊ18.3K
$468MX$8,090
-15.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894βΊ41.1K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-45.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$720βΊ33.1K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-40.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,315βΊ60.4K
$3,946MX$68.3K
-66.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$959βΊ44.1K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-85.24%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Antakya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
11.42
31.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antakya: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Antakya and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $30.00 in Antakya vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $249 per month, with Antakya cheaper across the board.
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
Antakya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antakya and Playa del Carmen?
Antakya and Playa del Carmen differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,032 vs $1,297 including rent). Antakya is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Antakya compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,548 in Antakya and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Antakya and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Antakya versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Antakya β a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,032 in Antakya versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Antakya but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Antakya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antakya and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Antakya or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antakya and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Antakya or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Antakya gentler on the wallet β expenses run 26% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.