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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,033 in Targoviste, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,459 in Targoviste, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,884 in Targoviste, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Targoviste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Targoviste are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Targoviste 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$9.28 RON 41.96

26.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$27.81 RON 126

49.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.85 RON 30.96

55.33%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$2.27 RON 10.24

55.07%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$1.51 RON 6.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$1.44 RON 6.50

-32.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$2.34 RON 10.56

26.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$3.02 RON 13.65

47.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$1.56 RON 7.04

-11.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.99 RON 4.49

90.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.65 RON 7.44

-0.61%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$2.82 RON 12.76

-10.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.54 RON 16.01

135.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$6.61 RON 29.88

26.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$9.97 RON 45.05

7.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$1.23 RON 5.58

111.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.73 RON 7.82

-15.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.60 RON 7.23

18.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.89 RON 8.54

10.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$1.04 RON 4.72

71.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$1.13 RON 5.11

93.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.83 RON 3.76

25.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.74 RON 3.33

45.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$6.12 RON 27.66

-33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$5.64 RON 25.50

82.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.25 RON 5.64

36.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$2.19 RON 9.90

17.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.48 RON 2.15

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$19.47 RON 88.0

35.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$0.80 RON 3.62

307.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.74 RON 3.37

236.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$7.45 RON 33.68

-56.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$1.55 RON 6.99

-15.48%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$28.5K RON 128.7K

6.38%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$27.9K RON 125.9K

-15.90%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$210 RON 951

-60.63%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$7.86 RON 35.54

182.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$9.00 RON 40.69

226.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$23.06 RON 104

123.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$18.95 RON 85.7

-3.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$3.44 RON 15.54

47.38%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$352 RON 1,591

-42.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$8,857 RON 40.0K

-41.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$69.2 RON 313

-46.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$34.09 RON 154

16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$56.6 RON 256

38.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$80.3 RON 363

8.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$368 RON 1,663

164.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$287 RON 1,295

63.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$486 RON 2,195

237.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$426 RON 1,927

186.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$1,680 RON 7,593

134.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,349 RON 6,097

381.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$923 RON 4,173

-28.07%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $368 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 $28.00 in Targoviste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $189 – 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 26%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,550 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,033 in Targoviste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $1,033, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.