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: $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: Latakia 66% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94 SYP 601
$11.71 MX$198
-57.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.31 SYP 3,685
$46.59 MX$787
-34.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.42 SYP 658
$11.65 MX$197
-53.48%
Cappuccino
$0.99 SYP 120
$4.09 MX$69.1
-75.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 SYP 122
$1.37 MX$23.21
-27.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 SYP 97.8
$0.83 MX$14.08
-3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 SYP 120
$3.35 MX$56.6
-70.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 SYP 374
$6.91 MX$117
-55.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 SYP 116
$1.73 MX$29.16
-45.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 SYP 50.2
$2.26 MX$38.17
-81.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 SYP 141
$1.77 MX$29.88
-34.46%
Eggs
$1.46 SYP 177
$2.73 MX$46.14
-46.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.89 SYP 473
$9.18 MX$155
-57.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.20 SYP 632
$8.92 MX$151
-41.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 SYP 1,721
$12.60 MX$213
12.38%
Apples (1kg)
$0.86 SYP 105
$3.02 MX$51.0
-71.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 SYP 143
$1.57 MX$26.52
-25.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 SYP 88.7
$2.13 MX$35.89
-65.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 83.9
$2.26 MX$38.23
-69.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 83.8
$2.00 MX$33.84
-65.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 SYP 96.3
$2.06 MX$34.86
-61.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 SYP 49.31
$1.18 MX$19.92
-65.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 SYP 76.5
$1.20 MX$20.33
-47.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 SYP 346
$4.63 MX$78.3
-38.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.08 SYP 495
$10.69 MX$180
-61.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 SYP 163
$1.62 MX$27.35
-17.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SYP 278
$2.88 MX$48.65
-20.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.07 SYP 7.95
$0.57 MX$9.68
-87.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.83 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 SYP 125
$5.45 MX$92.0
-81.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 SYP 69.5
$3.70 MX$62.6
-84.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 SYP 618
$5.98 MX$101
-14.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 SYP 128
$1.55 MX$26.23
-32.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K SYP 1.8M
$22.3K MX$377.0K
-32.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K SYP 2.3M
$25.9K MX$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)
$67.5 SYP 8,204
$89.1 MX$1,505
-24.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.31 SYP 888
$25.04 MX$423
-70.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.74 SYP 4,101
$31.50 MX$532
7.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.19 SYP 1,725
$67.8 MX$1,145
-79.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.56 SYP 1,162
$28.92 MX$488
-66.94%
Cinema Ticket
$1.17 SYP 142
$5.05 MX$85.3
-76.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$40.57 SYP 4,931
$225 MX$3,798
-81.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,512 SYP 183.8K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
-64.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.54 SYP 3,227
$47.44 MX$801
-44.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.16 SYP 2,329
$44.98 MX$759
-57.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.08 SYP 5,115
$82.0 MX$1,384
-48.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.66 SYP 4,821
$92.1 MX$1,555
-56.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$90.8 SYP 11.0K
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-91.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$51.7 SYP 6,279
$405 MX$6,844
-87.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$250 SYP 30.4K
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-87.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 SYP 15.3K
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-90.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$705 SYP 85.7K
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-82.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$246 SYP 29.8K
$6,626 MX$111.9K
-96.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$58.3 SYP 7,085
$749 MX$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.

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