Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Targu Mures Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Targu Mures

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $993 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,532 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $2,071 in Targu Mures, rent included.

Almaty costs about 38% more than Targu Mures, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Targu Mures are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Targu Mures 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,923

$9.12 RON 41.16

43.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.2K

$45.14 RON 204

-1.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,930

$8.66 RON 39.09

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,496

$2.40 RON 10.83

37.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₸607

$1.58 RON 7.15

-15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸370

$1.29 RON 5.83

-36.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,068

$1.95 RON 8.81

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,768

$2.49 RON 11.24

56.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸782

$1.42 RON 6.41

21.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸369

$1.12 RON 5.04

-27.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸931

$1.53 RON 6.93

33.99%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,097

$2.99 RON 13.49

-19.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,640

$8.50 RON 38.36

46.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,076

$6.24 RON 28.18

8.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸5,020

$10.62 RON 47.96

4.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸875

$1.03 RON 4.65

87.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,053

$1.34 RON 6.03

73.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,364

$1.46 RON 6.61

105.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,226

$1.90 RON 8.57

42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸349

$0.76 RON 3.42

1.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸263

$0.56 RON 2.54

3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸761

$0.86 RON 3.89

95.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸450

$0.75 RON 3.39

32.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,202

$6.22 RON 28.10

-57.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸5,013

$7.95 RON 35.88

38.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸557

$1.12 RON 5.06

9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,063

$1.64 RON 7.42

42.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.64 RON 2.88

-60.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,769

$27.06 RON 122

-20.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸591

$0.90 RON 4.07

44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸290

$0.91 RON 4.10

-29.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,916

$8.08 RON 36.46

34.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸319

$1.87 RON 8.43

-62.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K ₸10.1M

$29.8K RON 134.6K

-25.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.4K ₸13.3M

$26.6K RON 120.2K

10.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.2 ₸41.4K

$106 RON 477

-13.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.56 ₸4,794

$9.81 RON 44.29

7.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,922

$8.36 RON 37.73

108.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸34.0K

$43.43 RON 196

72.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.8K

$19.34 RON 87.3

56.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,990

$6.76 RON 30.53

-2.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$434 ₸197.2K

$1,374 RON 6,203

-68.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸40.1K

$56.3 RON 254

57.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.4K

$31.54 RON 142

49.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸64.3K

$80.9 RON 365

74.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.7K

$81.7 RON 369

61.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸370.7K

$444 RON 2,004

84.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸227.5K

$307 RON 1,386

63.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸653.3K

$667 RON 3,010

115.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸409.1K

$505 RON 2,281

78.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₸1.1M

$2,388 RON 10.8K

3.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₸690.3K

$1,511 RON 6,820

0.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₸389.2K

$1,042 RON 4,704

-17.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

7.47

175.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $444 in Targu Mures. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Targu Mures, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Almaty versus $45.00 in Targu Mures. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Almaty vs $201 in Targu Mures – so Targu Mures wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Almaty vs Targu Mures: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,489 in Targu Mures. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Targu Mures, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Almaty and $45.00 in Targu Mures. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,367 in Almaty and $993 in Targu Mures. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Mures, where all-in costs run around $993, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Targu Mures it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Targu Mures – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Targu Mures. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.