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 $1,056 per month in Almaty vs $1,061 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,678 per month in Almaty vs $1,549 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,301 per month in Almaty vs $2,036 in Targu Mures, rent included.

Almaty is about 1% cheaper than Targu Mures, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Targu Mures are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Targu Mures 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.98 ₸3,791

$8.46 RON 38.78

-5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.49 ₸18.3K

$39.85 RON 183

-3.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 ₸3,201

$8.79 RON 40.30

-23.32%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₸1,144

$2.19 RON 10.05

10.05%

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

$0.97 ₸461

$1.32 RON 6.03

-26.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸266

$1.15 RON 5.26

-51.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 ₸635

$2.25 RON 10.32

-40.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₸1,407

$2.78 RON 12.75

6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸622

$1.62 RON 7.41

-19.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸284

$1.22 RON 5.59

-50.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸730

$1.59 RON 7.31

-3.14%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸823

$2.92 RON 13.40

-40.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₸4,406

$8.68 RON 39.78

6.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 ₸2,212

$6.94 RON 31.83

-32.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.82 ₸3,713

$12.63 RON 57.9

-38.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸637

$1.02 RON 4.66

31.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸890

$1.32 RON 6.04

41.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₸894

$1.52 RON 6.97

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ₸988

$1.97 RON 9.03

5.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸280

$0.91 RON 4.15

-35.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸190

$0.93 RON 4.28

-56.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₸586

$0.78 RON 3.58

57.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸336

$0.80 RON 3.65

-11.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸935

$6.25 RON 28.67

-68.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 ₸5,124

$7.39 RON 33.89

46.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₸425

$1.05 RON 4.81

-15.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸1,014

$1.61 RON 7.40

32.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.56 RON 2.58

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.74 ₸8,425

$15.04 RON 68.9

17.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 ₸545

$0.90 RON 4.13

27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸333

$0.72 RON 3.29

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 ₸2,234

$7.52 RON 34.47

-37.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸227

$1.61 RON 7.39

-70.19%

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

$23.2K ₸11.0M

$27.8K RON 127.6K

-16.60%

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

$27.3K ₸13.0M

$28.5K RON 130.8K

-4.23%

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

$62.3 ₸29.6K

$167 RON 765

-62.67%

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

$8.94 ₸4,246

$8.53 RON 39.09

4.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.69 ₸6,500

$10.05 RON 46.10

36.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.48 ₸23.0K

$46.19 RON 212

4.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.89 ₸10.4K

$18.49 RON 84.8

18.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ₸2,422

$5.83 RON 26.73

-12.52%

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

$267 ₸127.0K

$1,378 RON 6,320

-80.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.1M

$7,028 RON 32.2K

83.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.1 ₸39.9K

$72.9 RON 334

15.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.36 ₸21.1K

$31.90 RON 146

39.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.2 ₸47.1K

$73.9 RON 339

34.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ₸55.9K

$80.2 RON 368

46.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 ₸314.8K

$440 RON 2,019

50.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 ₸199.8K

$315 RON 1,445

33.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,160 ₸551.0K

$559 RON 2,563

107.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$763 ₸362.2K

$407 RON 1,864

87.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,421 ₸1.1M

$2,294 RON 10.5K

5.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₸669.2K

$1,504 RON 6,898

-6.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$810 ₸384.8K

$1,062 RON 4,869

-23.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

8.17

125.09%

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

Last update for Almaty: July 19, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $663 in Almaty versus $440 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 31% higher in Targu Mures, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty versus $40.00 in Targu Mures. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $214 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 – Targu Mures is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,583 per month in Almaty and $1,592 in Targu Mures. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Almaty, 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 $38.00 in Almaty and $40.00 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 $1,056 in Almaty and $1,061 in Targu Mures. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Almaty, where all-in costs run around $1,056, than in Targu Mures at $1,061. In Almaty it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Mures it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Almaty – 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 Almaty. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Targu Mures makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.