😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $476 in Latakia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $790 in Latakia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,104 in Latakia.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 173% more expensive than Latakia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Latakia65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$4.75SYP 525
146.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$19.68SYP 2,175
111.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$5.11SYP 565
108.22%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$0.66SYP 72.8
433.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$0.70SYP 77.7
115.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$0.37SYP 40.60
162.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.02SYP 113
189.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$1.73SYP 191
157.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$0.75SYP 83.0
84.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$0.58SYP 64.5
225.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$0.99SYP 110
65.66%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$1.82SYP 201
37.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$3.11SYP 344
168.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$6.84SYP 756
21.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$11.49SYP 1,269
-6.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$0.89SYP 98.0
192.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$1.05SYP 116
39.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$0.69SYP 76.4
175.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$0.58SYP 64.6
258.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$0.61SYP 67.4
191.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$0.66SYP 73.1
231.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$0.40SYP 44.24
160.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.62SYP 69.0
74.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$2.93SYP 324
39.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$5.03SYP 556
105.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$0.93SYP 103
83.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$1.85SYP 204
39.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.08SYP 8.61
537.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$1.02SYP 113
219.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$0.52SYP 57.8
378.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$6.63SYP 733
-50.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$0.95SYP 104
37.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$18.3KSYP 2.0M
65.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$21.0KSYP 2.3M
11.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$39.89SYP 4,408
107.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$8.31SYP 918
167.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$47.37SYP 5,234
-38.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$12.25SYP 1,353
321.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
$4.02SYP 444
355.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$1.11SYP 122
356.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$20.15SYP 2,227
896.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$1,841SYP 203.4K
183.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$22.21SYP 2,455
66.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$23.71SYP 2,620
67.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$41.62SYP 4,599
88.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$40.45SYP 4,469
115.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$247SYP 27.3K
293.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$84.6SYP 9,349
452.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$467SYP 51.6K
251.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$245SYP 27.1K
397.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
$58.1SYP 6,421
1042.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
13.75
-16.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Latakia: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $247 in Latakia. 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $20.00 in Latakia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $150 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 173% 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 1043% 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $247 in Latakia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.15 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 – 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 $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 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 – 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared