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 $839 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,355 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Sfantu Gheorghe is about 36% 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 39% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.60 RON 38.81

$11.96 MX$203

-28.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.65 RON 202

$47.38 MX$803

-5.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 RON 34.76

$11.75 MX$199

-34.47%

Cappuccino

$2.61 RON 11.78

$4.12 MX$69.9

-36.65%

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

$1.34 RON 6.05

$1.40 MX$23.71

-4.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 RON 4.88

$0.91 MX$15.46

18.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 RON 11.71

$3.21 MX$54.3

-19.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.14

$7.07 MX$120

-68.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 RON 6.58

$1.68 MX$28.40

-13.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 RON 5.27

$2.15 MX$36.43

-45.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.64

$1.77 MX$30.06

-16.95%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 15.93

$2.82 MX$47.69

25.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 RON 36.59

$9.20 MX$156

-11.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 RON 21.69

$9.23 MX$156

-48.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 RON 37.76

$12.64 MX$214

-33.86%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.14

$2.95 MX$49.99

-61.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 RON 7.37

$1.58 MX$26.75

3.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 RON 5.71

$2.22 MX$37.65

-42.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RON 12.13

$2.36 MX$40.03

13.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 RON 3.15

$1.99 MX$33.76

-64.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.86

$1.98 MX$33.53

-68.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 RON 4.86

$1.24 MX$21.01

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RON 3.79

$1.21 MX$20.52

-30.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 RON 23.21

$4.60 MX$78.0

11.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 RON 34.63

$10.52 MX$178

-27.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.40

$1.69 MX$28.66

-42.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 4.95

$2.77 MX$47.00

-60.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$0.60 MX$10.21

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.69 RON 75.4

$29.70 MX$503

-43.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 RON 4.61

$5.24 MX$88.7

-80.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 RON 4.17

$3.65 MX$61.8

-74.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 RON 38.92

$5.78 MX$98.0

49.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.35

$1.54 MX$26.06

5.84%

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

$30.1K RON 136.0K

$22.8K MX$386.3K

32.15%

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

$26.1K RON 117.7K

$25.8K MX$437.3K

0.98%

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

$121 RON 545

$90.7 MX$1,536

33.09%

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

$9.53 RON 43.03

$25.19 MX$427

-62.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 RON 59.2

$31.75 MX$538

-58.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.20 RON 191

$68.8 MX$1,165

-38.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.66 RON 97.8

$29.37 MX$498

-26.25%

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 RON 14.68

$4.86 MX$82.4

-33.13%

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

$462 RON 2,085

$226 MX$3,823

104.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,059 RON 31.9K

$4,194 MX$71.0K

68.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.74 RON 125

$47.38 MX$803

-41.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.43 RON 65.1

$43.45 MX$736

-66.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.29 RON 186

$80.2 MX$1,359

-48.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 RON 300

$91.4 MX$1,548

-27.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,372

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-72.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 RON 1,011

$409 MX$6,923

-45.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 RON 2,477

$1,972 MX$33.4K

-72.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 RON 1,844

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-68.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 RON 8,730

$4,046 MX$68.5K

-52.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,396 RON 6,302

$6,704 MX$113.6K

-79.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 RON 3,206

$773 MX$13.1K

-8.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

11.45

-41.05%

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

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,086 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 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 $45.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $278 – 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 55%, 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 $1,259 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,958 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 $839 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 78% 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 $839, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.