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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $964 in Targoviste, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,409 in Targoviste, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,854 in Targoviste, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than Targoviste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Targoviste are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Targoviste 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$7.69 RON 35.29
50.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$27.08 RON 124
73.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$6.58 RON 30.18
80.55%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$2.19 RON 10.03
81.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$1.44 RON 6.62
-0.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$1.39 RON 6.36
-41.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$2.19 RON 10.03
45.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.83 RON 12.97
139.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.34 RON 6.13
25.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$0.91 RON 4.18
141.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$1.51 RON 6.92
13.25%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$2.73 RON 12.51
0.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$3.31 RON 15.18
189.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$6.73 RON 30.90
33.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$12.17 RON 55.8
5.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$1.01 RON 4.65
186.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.54 RON 7.05
-2.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$1.54 RON 7.08
39.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$1.84 RON 8.45
22.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$0.82 RON 3.76
141.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$0.95 RON 4.35
109.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$0.73 RON 3.35
68.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.74 RON 3.41
62.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$6.10 RON 27.97
-25.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$5.82 RON 26.71
78.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.22 RON 5.58
32.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$1.58 RON 7.25
82.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.46 RON 2.10
30.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$23.00 RON 106
25.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$0.65 RON 2.98
729.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.63 RON 2.90
492.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$6.79 RON 31.15
-15.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.63 RON 7.47
-5.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$29.2K RON 133.8K
-22.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$27.2K RON 124.9K
-4.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$208 RON 953
-56.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$7.71 RON 35.38
226.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$8.68 RON 39.83
259.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$22.28 RON 102
201.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$21.50 RON 98.7
35.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$3.39 RON 15.57
43.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$335 RON 1,538
-33.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$8,641 RON 39.6K
-51.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$59.4 RON 272
-20.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$33.36 RON 153
32.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$56.0 RON 257
43.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$78.0 RON 358
18.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$365 RON 1,675
191.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$282 RON 1,293
38.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$467 RON 2,144
359.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$421 RON 1,931
202.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$1,931 RON 8,861
107.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$1,380 RON 6,334
370.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$924 RON 4,239
-17.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.84
67.40%

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 Targoviste: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $365 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 22% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $27.00 in Targoviste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $186 – 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
Is Targoviste cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,446 in Targoviste. 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 Targoviste, 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 Targoviste?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $964 in Targoviste. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 25% less in Targoviste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Targoviste?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targoviste, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Targoviste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Targoviste more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Targoviste?
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 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.

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