😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $575 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,168 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,761 in Targovishte, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 120% more than Targovishte, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Targovishte are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Targovishte58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$7.19BGN 11.95
61.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$41.09BGN 68.4
14.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$6.92BGN 11.52
71.68%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.61BGN 2.67
147.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$1.09BGN 1.81
31.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.64BGN 1.06
28.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$0.98BGN 1.63
225.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.22BGN 7.03
60.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.54BGN 2.56
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$0.75BGN 1.24
193.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$2.33BGN 3.88
-26.61%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.73BGN 4.55
0.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$8.57BGN 14.25
11.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.63BGN 9.37
60.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$8.83BGN 14.69
45.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.78BGN 2.96
62.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.85BGN 3.08
-18.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.80BGN 2.99
19.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$2.73BGN 4.54
-17.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.10BGN 1.84
80.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$1.13BGN 1.88
76.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$0.91BGN 1.51
35.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.62BGN 1.03
93.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$3.52BGN 5.86
29.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.31BGN 10.49
64.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$0.72BGN 1.20
125.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.02BGN 1.71
182.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.46BGN 0.76
30.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$1.20BGN 1.99
349.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.55BGN 0.91
578.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$10.80BGN 17.97
-46.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.68BGN 2.80
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$31.2KBGN 51.9K
-27.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$20.6KBGN 34.3K
26.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$58.9BGN 97.9
55.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$8.68BGN 14.43
190.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$12.93BGN 21.51
141.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$17.79BGN 29.60
277.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$23.81BGN 39.61
22.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$5.93BGN 9.87
-18.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$540BGN 898
-58.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$5,532BGN 9,204
-23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$69.7BGN 116
-32.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$42.86BGN 71.3
3.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$92.7BGN 154
-13.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$107BGN 178
-13.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$149BGN 248
611.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$385BGN 640
458.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$349BGN 581
264.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$1,425BGN 2,371
180.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$1,161BGN 1,932
459.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Targovishte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$1,287BGN 2,141
-41.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.1
269.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Targovishte: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $149 in Targovishte. 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 70% higher in Targovishte, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $41.00 in Targovishte. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $199 – making Targovishte 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 Targovishte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Targovishte cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 120%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $863 in Targovishte. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Targovishte, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Targovishte?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $575 in Targovishte. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $540 in Targovishte. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Targovishte?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targovishte, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Targovishte it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Targovishte more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Targovishte – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Targovishte?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Targovishte. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared