Cost of Living Comparison Between Targoviste and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Targoviste and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,033 per month in Targoviste vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Targoviste vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,884 per month in Targoviste vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targoviste is about 20% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Targoviste and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Targoviste 23% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.28 RON 41.96
$11.73 MX$203
-20.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.81 RON 126
$41.62 MX$720
-33.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.85 RON 30.96
$10.64 MX$184
-35.62%
Cappuccino
$2.27 RON 10.24
$3.52 MX$60.9
-35.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 RON 6.83
$1.51 MX$26.12
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 RON 6.50
$0.97 MX$16.84
48.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 RON 10.56
$2.95 MX$51.0
-20.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 RON 13.65
$4.45 MX$77.0
-32.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 RON 7.04
$1.38 MX$23.93
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 RON 4.49
$1.89 MX$32.72
-47.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 RON 7.44
$1.64 MX$28.32
0.61%
Eggs
$2.82 RON 12.76
$2.51 MX$43.34
12.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.54 RON 16.01
$8.34 MX$144
-57.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.61 RON 29.88
$8.34 MX$144
-20.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 RON 45.05
$10.73 MX$186
-7.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.58
$2.60 MX$45.04
-52.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 RON 7.82
$1.46 MX$25.20
18.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.23
$1.90 MX$32.87
-15.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.89 RON 8.54
$2.08 MX$35.91
-9.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 RON 4.72
$1.78 MX$30.71
-41.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 RON 5.11
$2.19 MX$37.80
-48.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 RON 3.76
$1.04 MX$17.99
-20.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RON 3.33
$1.08 MX$18.62
-31.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.12 RON 27.66
$4.08 MX$70.6
50.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 RON 25.50
$10.32 MX$178
-45.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 RON 5.64
$1.71 MX$29.61
-26.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 RON 9.90
$2.58 MX$44.54
-15.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 RON 2.15
$0.51 MX$8.81
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.47 RON 88.0
$26.46 MX$458
-26.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.80 RON 3.62
$3.26 MX$56.4
-75.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 RON 3.37
$2.49 MX$43.09
-70.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.45 RON 33.68
$3.25 MX$56.2
129.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 RON 6.99
$1.31 MX$22.61
18.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 128.7K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-6.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K RON 125.9K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
18.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 RON 951
$82.9 MX$1,433
153.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.86 RON 35.54
$22.22 MX$384
-64.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.00 RON 40.69
$29.34 MX$507
-69.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.06 RON 104
$51.6 MX$893
-55.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.95 RON 85.7
$18.32 MX$317
3.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44 RON 15.54
$5.07 MX$87.6
-32.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$352 RON 1,591
$201 MX$3,473
75.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,857 RON 40.0K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
69.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2 RON 313
$36.92 MX$639
87.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.09 RON 154
$39.79 MX$688
-14.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 RON 256
$78.5 MX$1,357
-27.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 RON 363
$87.1 MX$1,506
-7.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$368 RON 1,663
$973 MX$16.8K
-62.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 RON 1,295
$468 MX$8,090
-38.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$486 RON 2,195
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-70.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$426 RON 1,927
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-65.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,680 RON 7,593
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-57.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,349 RON 6,097
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-79.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$923 RON 4,173
$664 MX$11.5K
39.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.28
11.42
-45.01%

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

Last update for Targoviste: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $368 in Targoviste versus $973 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 39% 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 $28.00 in Targoviste versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $249 – 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
Targoviste vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Targoviste?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,550 per month in Targoviste and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Targoviste vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,033 in Targoviste and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. 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 36% less in Targoviste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Targoviste or Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targoviste, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Targoviste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Targoviste or Playa del Carmen 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, Targoviste or Playa del Carmen?
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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