Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Targu Mures Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Targu Mures

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,062 in Targu Mures.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,567 in Targu Mures.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,071 in Targu Mures.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 39% more expensive than in Targu Mures, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Targu Mures is 20% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$228
$8.83 RON 40.20
48.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$928
$40.43 RON 184
32.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$162
$8.90 RON 40.52
4.83%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.2
$2.20 RON 10.02
68.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.82
$1.33 RON 6.04
20.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.39
$1.16 RON 5.26
-3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.4
$2.17 RON 9.86
44.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.1
$2.70 RON 12.30
79.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$1.57 RON 7.13
5.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.07
$1.16 RON 5.26
133.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.10
$1.59 RON 7.22
20.13%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.92
$2.99 RON 13.60
-13.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$170
$8.56 RON 38.96
14.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$146
$6.87 RON 31.27
22.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$207
$12.57 RON 57.2
-5.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.2
$0.99 RON 4.50
197.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.18
$1.32 RON 6.00
31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.46
$1.54 RON 7.00
32.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.73
$1.98 RON 9.01
4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.28
$0.95 RON 4.34
126.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.11
$0.88 RON 3.99
156.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.03
$0.75 RON 3.41
85.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.36
$0.74 RON 3.35
51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.2
$5.98 RON 27.22
-29.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$304
$7.71 RON 35.07
127.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.65
$1.08 RON 4.93
58.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.0
$1.68 RON 7.66
116.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.12
$0.56 RON 2.53
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$335
$14.78 RON 67.3
30.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.86
$0.91 RON 4.13
51.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.72 RON 3.27
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$91.5
$7.17 RON 32.65
-26.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.55
$1.54 RON 7.02
-11.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$331.3K
$27.6K RON 125.7K
-30.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$409.4K
$28.0K RON 127.3K
-15.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$703
$168 RON 766
-75.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$475
$8.57 RON 39.01
219.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$527
$9.90 RON 45.04
206.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$906
$46.99 RON 214
11.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$459
$18.51 RON 84.2
43.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$107
$5.79 RON 26.34
6.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,372
$1,389 RON 6,324
-69.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$186.2K
$7,029 RON 32.0K
52.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,011
$72.7 RON 331
-19.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$773
$32.32 RON 147
37.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,795
$72.4 RON 329
42.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,886
$81.7 RON 372
33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.6K
$447 RON 2,033
127.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$306 RON 1,394
103.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$36.8K
$562 RON 2,559
276.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$404 RON 1,837
203.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$65.8K
$2,330 RON 10.6K
62.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.6K
$1,516 RON 6,900
39.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Targu Mures
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.2K
$1,047 RON 4,764
0.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
8.17
38.80%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $447 in Targu Mures. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 1% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $40.00 in Targu Mures for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $213 per month, with Targu Mures 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
Mexico City vs Targu Mures: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Targu Mures?
Mexico City and Targu Mures differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,062 including rent). Targu Mures is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Targu Mures?
Average pay runs 1% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Targu Mures?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $447 in Targu Mures. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Targu Mures?
A monthly transit pass in Targu Mures runs roughly 31% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Targu Mures?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $1,389 in Targu Mures. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,062 in Targu Mures versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Mures but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Mures the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Targu Mures?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Targu Mures safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Targu Mures are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Targu Mures?
Expats usually find Targu Mures gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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