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 $895 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,388 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,880 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sfantu Gheorghe is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sfantu Gheorghe and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Sfantu Gheorghe 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.82 RON 40.45

$11.95 MX$209

-26.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.49 RON 186

$41.94 MX$733

-3.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 RON 42.41

$10.42 MX$182

-11.23%

Cappuccino

$2.10 RON 9.63

$3.51 MX$61.4

-40.17%

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

$1.26 RON 5.78

$1.52 MX$26.50

-17.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 5.05

$0.91 MX$15.91

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.27

$3.04 MX$53.1

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 RON 12.30

$4.37 MX$76.4

-38.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.08

$1.42 MX$24.84

8.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$1.83 MX$32.00

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.17

$1.63 MX$28.57

-17.18%

Eggs

$2.96 RON 13.59

$2.54 MX$44.38

16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 RON 39.29

$8.57 MX$150

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.04 RON 18.52

$8.49 MX$148

-52.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 RON 58.1

$10.80 MX$189

17.31%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.54

$2.75 MX$48.14

-64.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 RON 6.32

$1.44 MX$25.10

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 RON 5.76

$1.89 MX$32.97

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 RON 8.81

$2.17 MX$37.93

-11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.31

$1.78 MX$31.10

-59.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 RON 4.01

$2.22 MX$38.87

-60.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RON 3.68

$1.07 MX$18.68

-25.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RON 3.01

$1.08 MX$18.87

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 RON 25.44

$4.15 MX$72.5

33.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 RON 37.62

$10.45 MX$183

-21.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 RON 4.91

$1.74 MX$30.47

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.13

$2.58 MX$45.11

-56.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.31

$0.51 MX$8.97

41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.93 RON 91.4

$25.94 MX$453

-23.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 RON 4.40

$3.21 MX$56.1

-70.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.16

$2.50 MX$43.73

-72.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 RON 33.57

$3.19 MX$55.7

129.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.36

$1.26 MX$21.96

26.98%

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

$28.0K RON 128.2K

$29.7K MX$518.8K

-5.84%

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

$27.8K RON 127.3K

$23.7K MX$413.9K

17.27%

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

$169 RON 775

$82.0 MX$1,434

106.18%

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

$8.67 RON 39.74

$22.73 MX$397

-61.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.68 RON 44.39

$29.42 MX$514

-67.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 RON 193

$52.2 MX$912

-19.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.52 RON 89.5

$18.45 MX$322

5.80%

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 RON 15.59

$4.93 MX$86.2

-31.03%

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

$429 RON 1,965

$202 MX$3,526

112.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 RON 31.9K

$5,217 MX$91.2K

33.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.73 RON 159

$35.93 MX$628

-3.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.61 RON 85.3

$40.33 MX$705

-53.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.49 RON 126

$79.9 MX$1,396

-65.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 RON 318

$89.3 MX$1,561

-22.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,444

$948 MX$16.6K

-66.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 RON 1,073

$465 MX$8,132

-49.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 RON 2,638

$1,630 MX$28.5K

-64.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$435 RON 1,993

$1,193 MX$20.8K

-63.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,938 RON 8,885

$3,933 MX$68.7K

-50.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 RON 6,515

$6,428 MX$112.3K

-77.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$694 RON 3,183

$658 MX$11.5K

5.45%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $948 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 5% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $252 – 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 41%, 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 $1,343 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,888 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 $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% 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 $895, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. 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.