Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $918 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,940 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sfantu Gheorghe is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sfantu Gheorghe and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sfantu Gheorghe 32% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.45 RON 38.36

$11.87 MX$207

-28.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.07 RON 182

$42.90 MX$749

-6.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 RON 41.40

$10.65 MX$186

-14.37%

Cappuccino

$2.01 RON 9.12

$3.45 MX$60.2

-41.74%

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

$1.27 RON 5.75

$1.50 MX$26.24

-15.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.03

$0.95 MX$16.56

16.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 RON 9.69

$3.03 MX$52.8

-29.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 RON 12.35

$4.61 MX$80.4

-41.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.01

$1.38 MX$24.01

11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.52

$1.85 MX$32.24

-34.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.14

$1.61 MX$28.11

-16.15%

Eggs

$3.05 RON 13.83

$2.59 MX$45.26

17.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 RON 39.70

$8.26 MX$144

5.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.11 RON 18.68

$8.37 MX$146

-50.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 RON 55.9

$10.66 MX$186

15.38%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.46

$2.63 MX$45.89

-62.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 RON 5.95

$1.49 MX$25.96

-12.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 RON 5.91

$1.92 MX$33.50

-32.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 RON 9.01

$2.09 MX$36.41

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$1.86 MX$32.42

-61.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.95

$2.26 MX$39.47

-61.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RON 3.57

$1.06 MX$18.54

-25.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$1.09 MX$18.98

-38.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 RON 25.05

$4.15 MX$72.4

33.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.46 RON 38.39

$10.39 MX$181

-18.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.75

$1.72 MX$30.09

-38.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.13

$2.61 MX$45.60

-56.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.03

$0.54 MX$9.46

24.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.63 RON 89.1

$26.94 MX$470

-27.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 RON 4.29

$3.13 MX$54.6

-69.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 RON 3.06

$2.51 MX$43.82

-73.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 RON 34.11

$3.15 MX$55.0

138.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.19

$1.27 MX$22.25

24.41%

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

$27.9K RON 126.9K

$30.4K MX$530.1K

-7.99%

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

$28.0K RON 127.3K

$23.6K MX$411.3K

18.97%

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

$168 RON 764

$83.0 MX$1,449

102.77%

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

$8.52 RON 38.69

$22.71 MX$396

-62.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.63 RON 43.74

$29.46 MX$514

-67.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.76 RON 185

$51.0 MX$890

-20.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 RON 85.7

$18.33 MX$320

2.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.35 RON 15.21

$4.93 MX$86.0

-32.05%

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

$431 RON 1,958

$197 MX$3,444

118.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,922 RON 31.4K

$5,280 MX$92.1K

31.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.47 RON 156

$36.90 MX$644

-6.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.69 RON 84.9

$39.89 MX$696

-53.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.87 RON 127

$80.0 MX$1,396

-65.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 RON 317

$89.5 MX$1,561

-21.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$320 RON 1,451

$956 MX$16.7K

-66.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 RON 1,042

$477 MX$8,327

-51.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$565 RON 2,566

$1,646 MX$28.7K

-65.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,999

$1,225 MX$21.4K

-64.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 RON 8,744

$3,918 MX$68.4K

-50.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,397 RON 6,340

$6,459 MX$112.7K

-78.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$724 RON 3,287

$667 MX$11.6K

8.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

11.42

-40.89%

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

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $320 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. 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 9% higher in Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $250 – making Sfantu Gheorghe 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

Sfantu Gheorghe vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 $918 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 37% less in Sfantu Gheorghe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Sfantu Gheorghe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sfantu Gheorghe – 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 Sfantu Gheorghe. 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.