๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $472 in Latakia.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $791 in Latakia.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,110 in Latakia.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 167% more expensive than Latakia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Latakia65% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$4.64SYPย 527
151.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$19.83SYPย 2,252
111.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$5.13SYPย 583
102.73%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$0.66SYPย 75.4
446.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$0.74SYPย 84.3
98.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.36SYPย 40.97
152.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$0.98SYPย 112
209.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$1.72SYPย 195
159.88%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.77SYPย 87.7
79.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.62SYPย 70.9
196.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.00SYPย 113
61.00%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.89SYPย 215
35.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$3.06SYPย 347
177.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$6.72SYPย 763
26.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$11.25SYPย 1,278
-2.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$0.82SYPย 93.3
232.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.05SYPย 119
42.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$0.69SYPย 78.3
184.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$0.59SYPย 67.4
259.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$0.61SYPย 69.2
204.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$0.66SYPย 75.5
228.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.38SYPย 43.13
181.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.58SYPย 66.4
81.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$2.96SYPย 336
41.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$5.11SYPย 581
101.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$0.98SYPย 111
70.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.76SYPย 200
41.48%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.06SYPย 6.94
800.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$0.98SYPย 112
216.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$0.48SYPย 54.1
412.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$6.30SYPย 716
-48.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.95SYPย 108
32.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$18.4KSYPย 2.1M
64.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$20.7KSYPย 2.4M
13.13%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$40.53SYPย 4,603
107.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$8.63SYPย 980
157.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$47.31SYPย 5,373
-37.33%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$11.95SYPย 1,357
340.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$3.91SYPย 444
369.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$1.07SYPย 121
362.62%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$20.50SYPย 2,328
867.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$1,836SYPย 208.5K
189.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$21.72SYPย 2,467
65.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$24.01SYPย 2,727
66.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$41.15SYPย 4,673
91.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$41.60SYPย 4,725
107.96%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$243SYPย 27.6K
302.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$83.6SYPย 9,495
463.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$472SYPย 53.7K
237.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$237SYPย 26.9K
412.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$59.1SYPย 6,717
1107.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
13.75
-16.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Latakia: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $243 in Latakia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐPlaya 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.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $20 in Latakia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $149 per month, with Latakia 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 Latakia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Latakia cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
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: Playa del Carmen or Latakia?
Playa del Carmen pays 1108% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Latakia?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $243 in Latakia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.50 in Latakia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Latakia?
Dining out is cheaper in Latakia โ 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 Playa del Carmen or Latakia?
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 Playa del Carmen or Latakia 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 โ 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared