😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $868 in Antakya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,349 in Antakya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,830 in Antakya.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 50% more expensive than in Antakya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Antakya37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$4.89₺237
144.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$32.92₺1,599
43.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$7.02₺341
67.38%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$3.23₺157
27.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$0.96₺46.70
45.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.24₺11.71
279.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$3.50₺170
-8.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.68₺179
92.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$0.87₺42.29
93.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$0.91₺44.33
136.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.65₺129
-33.21%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$1.82₺88.5
54.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$9.00₺437
2.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$3.33₺162
177.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$18.92₺919
-33.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$1.53₺74.4
92.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.61₺78.3
-1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$0.80₺38.65
177.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$0.93₺44.96
153.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$0.59₺28.83
237.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$0.49₺23.70
304.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$0.81₺39.31
53.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$0.45₺21.62
168.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$2.00₺97.0
130.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$8.08₺392
30.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$2.32₺113
-27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$1.98₺96.4
39.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$0.69₺33.47
-13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$32.77₺1,591
-9.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$0.72₺34.98
627.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$0.77₺37.46
374.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$4.45₺216
29.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.25₺60.9
23.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$42.2K₺2.1M
-46.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$39.8K₺1.9M
-35.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$31.44₺1,526
188.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$15.88₺771
58.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$10.70₺520
196.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$45.68₺2,218
50.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$3.67₺178
32.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$627₺30.4K
-63.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$11.7K₺566.0K
-64.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$15.63₺759
203.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$14.48₺703
200.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$54.4₺2,643
47.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$36.65₺1,779
149.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$450₺21.9K
141.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$305₺14.8K
33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$715₺34.7K
175.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$514₺25.0K
149.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$1,471₺71.4K
174.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$1,168₺56.7K
473.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Antakya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
43
-73.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Antakya: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $450 in Antakya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $33.00 in Antakya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $204 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
Playa del Carmen vs Antakya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Antakya?
Playa del Carmen and Antakya differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $868 including rent). Antakya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Antakya?
You'd need roughly $1,958 in Playa del Carmen and $1,301 in Antakya 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 Playa del Carmen and in Antakya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $450 in Antakya. 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 36% 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 – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $47.00 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 $868 in Antakya versus $1,305 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 Playa del Carmen and Antakya?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Antakya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Antakya 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: Playa del Carmen or Antakya?
Expats usually find Antakya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared