🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $473 in Latakia versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $781 in Latakia versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,089 in Latakia versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Latakia costs roughly 63% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Latakia66% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94SYP 601
$11.71MX$198
-57.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.31SYP 3,685
$46.59MX$787
-34.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42SYP 658
$11.65MX$197
-53.48%
Cappuccino
$0.99SYP 120
$4.09MX$69.1
-75.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00SYP 122
$1.37MX$23.21
-27.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80SYP 97.8
$0.83MX$14.08
-3.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99SYP 120
$3.35MX$56.6
-70.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SYP 374
$6.91MX$117
-55.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95SYP 116
$1.73MX$29.16
-45.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41SYP 50.2
$2.26MX$38.17
-81.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16SYP 141
$1.77MX$29.88
-34.46%
Eggs
$1.46SYP 177
$2.73MX$46.14
-46.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.89SYP 473
$9.18MX$155
-57.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.20SYP 632
$8.92MX$151
-41.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.16SYP 1,721
$12.60MX$213
12.38%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86SYP 105
$3.02MX$51.0
-71.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17SYP 143
$1.57MX$26.52
-25.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.73SYP 88.7
$2.13MX$35.89
-65.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69SYP 83.9
$2.26MX$38.23
-69.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69SYP 83.8
$2.00MX$33.84
-65.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79SYP 96.3
$2.06MX$34.86
-61.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41SYP 49.31
$1.18MX$19.92
-65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63SYP 76.5
$1.20MX$20.33
-47.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84SYP 346
$4.63MX$78.3
-38.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.08SYP 495
$10.69MX$180
-61.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34SYP 163
$1.62MX$27.35
-17.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SYP 278
$2.88MX$48.65
-20.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.07SYP 7.95
$0.57MX$9.68
-87.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03SYP 125
$5.45MX$92.0
-81.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57SYP 69.5
$3.70MX$62.6
-84.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.09SYP 618
$5.98MX$101
-14.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05SYP 128
$1.55MX$26.23
-32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KSYP 1.8M
$22.3KMX$377.0K
-32.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8KSYP 2.3M
$25.9KMX$438.2K
-27.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.5SYP 8,204
$89.1MX$1,505
-24.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.31SYP 888
$25.04MX$423
-70.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.74SYP 4,101
$31.50MX$532
7.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.19SYP 1,725
$67.8MX$1,145
-79.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.56SYP 1,162
$28.92MX$488
-66.94%
Cinema Ticket
$1.17SYP 142
$5.05MX$85.3
-76.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$40.57SYP 4,931
$225MX$3,798
-81.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,512SYP 183.8K
$4,222MX$71.3K
-64.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.54SYP 3,227
$47.44MX$801
-44.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.16SYP 2,329
$44.98MX$759
-57.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.08SYP 5,115
$82.0MX$1,384
-48.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.66SYP 4,821
$92.1MX$1,555
-56.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$90.8SYP 11.0K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-91.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$51.7SYP 6,279
$405MX$6,844
-87.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250SYP 30.4K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-87.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$126SYP 15.3K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-90.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$705SYP 85.7K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-82.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$246SYP 29.8K
$6,626MX$111.9K
-96.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$58.3SYP 7,085
$749MX$12.6K
-92.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.25
11.45
24.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Latakia: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $90.8 in Latakia and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 1184% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Latakia vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $277 per month, with Latakia cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Latakia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Latakia?
Latakia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Latakia or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 1184% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Latakia and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $90.8 in Latakia versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $40.57 in Latakia versus $225 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Latakia or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Latakia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Latakia or in Playa del Carmen?
At $473 in Latakia versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Latakia but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Latakia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Latakia or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Latakia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Latakia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.