Cost of Living Comparison Between Latakia and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Latakia and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Latakia versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $790 in Latakia versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Latakia versus $3,065 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: Latakia 65% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75 SYP 525
$11.73 MX$205
-59.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.68 SYP 2,175
$41.62 MX$727
-52.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.11 SYP 565
$10.64 MX$186
-51.97%
Cappuccino
$0.66 SYP 72.8
$3.52 MX$61.5
-81.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 SYP 77.7
$1.51 MX$26.37
-53.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 SYP 40.60
$0.97 MX$17.00
-61.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 SYP 113
$2.95 MX$51.5
-65.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 SYP 191
$4.45 MX$77.8
-61.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 SYP 83.0
$1.38 MX$24.16
-45.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 SYP 64.5
$1.89 MX$33.04
-69.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 SYP 110
$1.64 MX$28.59
-39.63%
Eggs
$1.82 SYP 201
$2.51 MX$43.76
-27.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.11 SYP 344
$8.34 MX$146
-62.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 SYP 756
$8.34 MX$146
-17.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.49 SYP 1,269
$10.73 MX$187
7.08%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 SYP 98.0
$2.60 MX$45.48
-65.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 SYP 116
$1.46 MX$25.45
-28.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 76.4
$1.90 MX$33.19
-63.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 SYP 64.6
$2.08 MX$36.26
-72.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 SYP 67.4
$1.78 MX$31.01
-65.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 73.1
$2.19 MX$38.16
-69.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 44.24
$1.04 MX$18.16
-61.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SYP 69.0
$1.08 MX$18.80
-42.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 SYP 324
$4.08 MX$71.3
-28.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.03 SYP 556
$10.32 MX$180
-51.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 SYP 103
$1.71 MX$29.90
-45.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SYP 204
$2.58 MX$44.98
-28.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.08 SYP 8.61
$0.51 MX$8.90
-84.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$462
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 SYP 113
$3.26 MX$57.0
-68.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 SYP 57.8
$2.49 MX$43.51
-79.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.63 SYP 733
$3.25 MX$56.7
104.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 SYP 104
$1.31 MX$22.83
-27.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K SYP 2.0M
$30.3K MX$528.8K
-39.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K SYP 2.3M
$23.4K MX$409.2K
-10.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.89 SYP 4,408
$82.9 MX$1,447
-51.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.31 SYP 918
$22.22 MX$388
-62.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.37 SYP 5,234
$29.34 MX$512
61.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.25 SYP 1,353
$51.6 MX$902
-76.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.02 SYP 444
$18.32 MX$320
-78.06%
Cinema Ticket
$1.11 SYP 122
$5.07 MX$88.5
-78.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.15 SYP 2,227
$201 MX$3,507
-89.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,841 SYP 203.4K
$5,212 MX$91.0K
-64.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.21 SYP 2,455
$36.92 MX$645
-39.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.71 SYP 2,620
$39.79 MX$695
-40.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.62 SYP 4,599
$78.5 MX$1,370
-46.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.45 SYP 4,469
$87.1 MX$1,521
-53.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$247 SYP 27.3K
$973 MX$17.0K
-74.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$84.6 SYP 9,349
$468 MX$8,169
-81.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 SYP 51.6K
$1,641 MX$28.7K
-71.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 SYP 27.1K
$1,221 MX$21.3K
-79.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$58.1 SYP 6,421
$664 MX$11.6K
-91.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.75
11.42
20.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Latakia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in Latakia and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 1043% 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: $20.00 in Latakia vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $249 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. 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, Playa del Carmen earns 1043% less. 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: $247 in Latakia 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 kindergarten?
Childcare runs $20.15 in Latakia versus $201 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 Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Latakia – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $42.00 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 Latakia or Playa del Carmen?
At $476 in Latakia versus $1,297 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.

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