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: $472 in Latakia versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Latakia versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,110 in Latakia versus $2,999 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 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 SYP 527
$11.67 MX$202
-60.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.83 SYP 2,252
$41.88 MX$726
-52.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 SYP 583
$10.40 MX$180
-50.67%
Cappuccino
$0.66 SYP 75.4
$3.61 MX$62.6
-81.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 SYP 84.3
$1.47 MX$25.45
-49.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 SYP 40.97
$0.91 MX$15.80
-60.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 SYP 112
$3.03 MX$52.6
-67.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 SYP 195
$4.47 MX$77.4
-61.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 SYP 87.7
$1.38 MX$23.83
-44.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 SYP 70.9
$1.84 MX$31.93
-66.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 SYP 113
$1.61 MX$27.82
-37.89%
Eggs
$1.89 SYP 215
$2.57 MX$44.52
-26.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.06 SYP 347
$8.49 MX$147
-63.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.72 SYP 763
$8.49 MX$147
-20.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.25 SYP 1,278
$10.99 MX$190
2.37%
Apples (1kg)
$0.82 SYP 93.3
$2.73 MX$47.25
-69.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 SYP 119
$1.50 MX$25.92
-30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 SYP 78.3
$1.96 MX$33.93
-64.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 SYP 67.4
$2.12 MX$36.70
-72.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 SYP 69.2
$1.86 MX$32.30
-67.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 75.5
$2.17 MX$37.67
-69.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 43.13
$1.07 MX$18.59
-64.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 SYP 66.4
$1.05 MX$18.18
-44.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 SYP 336
$4.19 MX$72.6
-29.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.11 SYP 581
$10.28 MX$178
-50.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 SYP 111
$1.67 MX$28.87
-41.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 SYP 200
$2.49 MX$43.12
-29.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.06 SYP 6.94
$0.54 MX$9.37
-88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.27 MX$455
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 SYP 112
$3.10 MX$53.8
-68.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 SYP 54.1
$2.46 MX$42.66
-80.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.30 SYP 716
$3.24 MX$56.1
94.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 SYP 108
$1.26 MX$21.83
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K SYP 2.1M
$30.2K MX$522.8K
-39.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K SYP 2.4M
$23.4K MX$406.3K
-11.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 SYP 4,603
$84.0 MX$1,456
-51.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.63 SYP 980
$22.21 MX$385
-61.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.31 SYP 5,373
$29.65 MX$514
59.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.95 SYP 1,357
$52.6 MX$912
-77.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.91 SYP 444
$18.34 MX$318
-78.68%
Cinema Ticket
$1.07 SYP 121
$4.95 MX$85.7
-78.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$20.50 SYP 2,328
$198 MX$3,438
-89.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,836 SYP 208.5K
$5,322 MX$92.2K
-65.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.72 SYP 2,467
$35.95 MX$623
-39.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.01 SYP 2,727
$40.06 MX$694
-40.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.15 SYP 4,673
$78.8 MX$1,365
-47.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.60 SYP 4,725
$86.5 MX$1,499
-51.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$243 SYP 27.6K
$977 MX$16.9K
-75.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.6 SYP 9,495
$471 MX$8,158
-82.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 SYP 53.7K
$1,595 MX$27.6K
-70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 SYP 26.9K
$1,215 MX$21.1K
-80.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,032 MX$69.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,579 MX$114.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Latakia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$59.1 SYP 6,717
$714 MX$12.4K
-91.72%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Latakia and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 1108% 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 in Latakia vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $252 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 167% 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 1108% 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: $243 in Latakia versus $977 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 $20.50 in Latakia versus $198 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 $472 in Latakia versus $1,261 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 167% 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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