Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Targu Jiu Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Targu Jiu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,039 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,627 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,214 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Targu Jiu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Targu Jiu are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Targu Jiu 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$13.93 RON 60.5

-16.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$726

$68.5 RON 297

-38.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$8.09 RON 35.10

28.55%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$3.44 RON 14.93

4.94%

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

$1.47 MX$25.45

$1.17 RON 5.07

25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.80

$2.29 RON 9.94

-60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.6

$3.52 RON 15.29

-13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$3.85 RON 16.71

16.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.83

$1.75 RON 7.58

-21.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.93

$1.43 RON 6.20

28.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.82

$1.92 RON 8.32

-16.15%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.52

$3.08 RON 13.38

-16.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$7.97 RON 34.59

6.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$3.30 RON 14.31

157.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$8.05 RON 34.95

36.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.25

$1.02 RON 4.43

167.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.92

$1.64 RON 7.14

-8.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.93

$1.25 RON 5.41

56.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.70

$1.37 RON 5.93

54.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.30

$0.94 RON 4.08

97.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.67

$0.96 RON 4.17

126.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.59

$0.70 RON 3.06

52.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.18

$0.56 RON 2.45

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$5.66 RON 24.55

-25.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$3.24 RON 14.06

217.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.87

$0.94 RON 4.06

77.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.12

$1.12 RON 4.86

122.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$0.72 RON 3.11

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$19.69 RON 85.4

33.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$0.70 RON 3.05

342.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.66

$0.61 RON 2.64

303.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.1

$7.01 RON 30.42

-53.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.83

$1.67 RON 7.25

-24.55%

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

$30.2K MX$522.8K

$28.8K RON 125.2K

4.59%

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

$23.4K MX$406.3K

$29.9K RON 129.8K

-21.60%

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

$84.0 MX$1,456

$178 RON 771

-52.71%

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

$22.21 MX$385

$6.41 RON 27.82

246.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$10.25 RON 44.49

189.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$41.67 RON 181

26.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

$19.38 RON 84.1

-5.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$9.38 RON 40.71

-47.23%

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

$198 MX$3,438

$670 RON 2,906

-70.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$14.5K RON 63.0K

-63.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$55.8 RON 242

-35.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$27.14 RON 118

47.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$56.8 RON 247

38.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,499

$93.7 RON 407

-7.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$375 RON 1,627

160.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,158

$250 RON 1,084

88.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$527 RON 2,287

202.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.1K

$440 RON 1,911

175.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.9K

$2,788 RON 12.1K

44.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$565 RON 2,454

26.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.1

60.85%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Targu Jiu: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $375 in Targu Jiu. 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 26% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $68 in Targu Jiu. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $171 in Targu Jiu – so Targu Jiu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Targu Jiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,559 in Targu Jiu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Targu Jiu, 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,039 in Targu Jiu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Targu Jiu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Jiu, where all-in costs run around $1,039, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Targu Jiu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Targu Jiu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Targu Jiu. 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.