Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Targoviste Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Targoviste

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,009 in Targoviste, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,467 in Targoviste, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,925 in Targoviste, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 24% more than Targoviste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Targoviste are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Targoviste 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$9.29 RON 42.62

29.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$27.11 RON 124

54.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$6.75 RON 30.99

59.26%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.34 RON 10.75

49.57%

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

$1.45 MX$25.22

$1.54 RON 7.08

-5.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$1.42 RON 6.52

-38.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$2.24 RON 10.26

31.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$3.08 RON 14.12

46.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.49 RON 6.84

-4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.99 RON 4.56

85.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.71 RON 7.83

-8.19%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$2.75 RON 12.60

-8.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$3.42 RON 15.70

142.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$6.63 RON 30.42

27.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$9.82 RON 45.08

8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$1.27 RON 5.83

105.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.64 RON 7.53

-12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.52 RON 6.97

28.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.89 RON 8.66

10.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$1.03 RON 4.73

79.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$1.09 RON 5.00

99.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.84 RON 3.87

22.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.74 RON 3.42

44.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$5.87 RON 26.97

-30.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$5.63 RON 25.85

80.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.26 RON 5.79

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$2.19 RON 10.07

15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.48 RON 2.21

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$19.77 RON 90.7

31.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$0.79 RON 3.63

308.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.76 RON 3.49

217.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$7.34 RON 33.71

-55.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.60 RON 7.35

-17.50%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$28.4K RON 130.4K

4.50%

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$27.1K RON 124.4K

-12.71%

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

$82.0 MX$1,428

$209 RON 962

-60.85%

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

$22.95 MX$400

$8.22 RON 37.72

179.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$9.14 RON 41.94

229.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$23.00 RON 106

125.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$19.03 RON 87.4

-2.63%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$3.53 RON 16.22

41.08%

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

$197 MX$3,438

$350 RON 1,608

-43.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$9,148 RON 42.0K

-41.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$70.1 RON 322

-49.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$34.97 RON 161

15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$57.3 RON 263

37.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$81.2 RON 373

9.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$382 RON 1,753

147.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$288 RON 1,322

64.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$473 RON 2,171

247.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$426 RON 1,956

184.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$1,931 RON 8,866

110.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$1,410 RON 6,474

358.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$906 RON 4,160

-27.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.28

81.85%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $382 in Targoviste. 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 39% higher in Targoviste, 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 $27.00 in Targoviste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $187 – making Targoviste 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 Targoviste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,514 in Targoviste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Targoviste, 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,009 in Targoviste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 32% less in Targoviste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targoviste, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Targoviste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Targoviste – 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 Targoviste. 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.