Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sfantu Gheorghe Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sfantu Gheorghe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,388 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,880 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Sfantu Gheorghe are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$209

$8.82 RON 40.45

35.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$733

$40.49 RON 186

3.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$182

$9.25 RON 42.41

12.65%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.4

$2.10 RON 9.63

67.14%

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

$1.52 MX$26.50

$1.26 RON 5.78

20.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.91

$1.10 RON 5.05

-17.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$53.1

$2.24 RON 10.27

35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.4

$2.68 RON 12.30

63.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.84

$1.54 RON 7.08

-7.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$32.00

$1.22 RON 5.59

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.57

$1.35 RON 6.17

20.74%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.38

$2.96 RON 13.59

-14.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$150

$8.57 RON 39.29

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$4.04 RON 18.52

110.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$189

$12.67 RON 58.1

-14.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$48.14

$0.99 RON 4.54

177.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.10

$1.38 RON 6.32

4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.97

$1.26 RON 5.76

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.93

$1.92 RON 8.81

13.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$31.10

$0.72 RON 3.31

147.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.87

$0.87 RON 4.01

155.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.68

$0.80 RON 3.68

33.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.87

$0.66 RON 3.01

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.5

$5.55 RON 25.44

-25.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$183

$8.20 RON 37.62

27.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.47

$1.07 RON 4.91

62.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$45.11

$1.12 RON 5.13

130.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.97

$0.72 RON 3.31

-29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$453

$19.93 RON 91.4

30.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$56.1

$0.96 RON 4.40

234.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.73

$0.69 RON 3.16

262.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.7

$7.32 RON 33.57

-56.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.96

$1.60 RON 7.36

-21.25%

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

$29.7K MX$518.8K

$28.0K RON 128.2K

6.20%

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

$23.7K MX$413.9K

$27.8K RON 127.3K

-14.73%

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

$82.0 MX$1,434

$169 RON 775

-51.50%

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

$22.73 MX$397

$8.67 RON 39.74

162.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$514

$9.68 RON 44.39

203.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$912

$42.14 RON 193

23.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$322

$19.52 RON 89.5

-5.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$86.2

$3.40 RON 15.59

45.00%

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

$202 MX$3,526

$429 RON 1,965

-52.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$91.2K

$6,965 RON 31.9K

-25.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$628

$34.73 RON 159

3.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$705

$18.61 RON 85.3

116.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,396

$27.49 RON 126

190.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,561

$69.4 RON 318

28.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.6K

$315 RON 1,444

201.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,132

$234 RON 1,073

98.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.5K

$575 RON 2,638

183.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

$435 RON 1,993

174.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.7K

$1,938 RON 8,885

102.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$112.3K

$1,421 RON 6,515

352.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

$694 RON 3,183

-5.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.75

69.19%

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 Sfantu Gheorghe: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 5% higher in Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $196 – making Sfantu Gheorghe 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

Playa del Carmen vs Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,343 in Sfantu Gheorghe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% less in Sfantu Gheorghe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. In Sfantu Gheorghe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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