😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen versus $478 in Latakia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Playa del Carmen versus $794 in Latakia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,109 in Latakia.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 164% more expensive than in Latakia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Latakia64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$208
$4.87SYP 592
145.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$730
$20.16SYP 2,451
108.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$181
$5.01SYP 609
107.98%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.2
$0.62SYP 75.7
466.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.39
$0.74SYP 90.1
105.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.84
$0.36SYP 43.84
152.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$52.9
$1.02SYP 124
198.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.1
$1.66SYP 202
163.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.73
$0.81SYP 98.3
75.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.87
$0.64SYP 77.6
185.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.45
$0.99SYP 121
64.65%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.20
$1.90SYP 230
33.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$149
$3.16SYP 384
171.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$6.64SYP 807
27.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$188
$11.17SYP 1,358
-3.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$47.94
$0.81SYP 99.0
239.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.00
$1.01SYP 123
42.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.83
$0.70SYP 84.7
170.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.77
$0.64SYP 77.8
239.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.97
$0.63SYP 76.2
182.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.71
$0.67SYP 81.0
231.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.60
$0.40SYP 49.02
167.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.79
$0.58SYP 70.2
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.2
$2.97SYP 360
39.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$182
$3.95SYP 481
164.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.34
$0.98SYP 119
77.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.92
$1.83SYP 222
40.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.94
$0.06SYP 7.33
750.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$451
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$55.9
$0.98SYP 119
227.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.55
$0.48SYP 58.6
420.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.4
$6.32SYP 768
-49.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.87
$0.87SYP 106
44.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$516.6K
$18.6KSYP 2.3M
59.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.1K
$20.7KSYP 2.5M
14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$40.09SYP 4,873
104.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$395
$8.38SYP 1,018
171.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$512
$46.58SYP 5,661
-36.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$908
$12.06SYP 1,466
332.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$321
$3.95SYP 480
367.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.9
$1.06SYP 129
365.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,511
$20.51SYP 2,493
883.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$90.8K
$1,795SYP 218.2K
190.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$625
$21.58SYP 2,623
66.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$24.34SYP 2,958
65.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$41.34SYP 5,025
93.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,554
$41.72SYP 5,071
114.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.5K
$249SYP 30.2K
281.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,097
$84.4SYP 10.3K
451.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.4K
$472SYP 57.4K
245.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.8K
$241SYP 29.3K
395.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.4K
$708SYP 86.1K
455.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$111.9K
$252SYP 30.7K
2447.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Latakia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
$58.1SYP 7,061
1033.17%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Latakia: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Playa del Carmen and $249 in Latakia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 1033% 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 $252 vs $147 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 164% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Latakia?
Average pay runs 1033% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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: $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $249 in Latakia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $20.51 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 in 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Latakia?
At $478 in Latakia versus $1,259 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 164% 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