🙂A single person spends $1,009 per month in Targoviste vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Targoviste vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,925 per month in Targoviste vs $3,017 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 – Targoviste24% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.29RON 42.58
$11.99MX$210
-22.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.11RON 124
$41.78MX$733
-35.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.75RON 30.96
$10.75MX$189
-37.21%
Cappuccino
$2.34RON 10.74
$3.50MX$61.3
-33.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54RON 7.07
$1.45MX$25.41
6.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42RON 6.52
$0.88MX$15.52
61.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.25
$2.95MX$51.7
-24.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08RON 14.11
$4.51MX$79.1
-31.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49RON 6.83
$1.43MX$25.12
4.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99RON 4.56
$1.84MX$32.23
-46.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.82
$1.57MX$27.51
8.92%
Eggs
$2.75RON 12.59
$2.51MX$44.06
9.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.42RON 15.69
$8.28MX$145
-58.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.63RON 30.39
$8.43MX$148
-21.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.82RON 45.04
$10.68MX$187
-8.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27RON 5.83
$2.61MX$45.76
-51.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.53
$1.44MX$25.22
13.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.96
$1.96MX$34.41
-22.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.66
$2.09MX$36.74
-9.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.73
$1.85MX$32.47
-44.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09RON 5.00
$2.17MX$38.02
-49.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84RON 3.86
$1.03MX$18.09
-18.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74RON 3.41
$1.07MX$18.84
-30.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87RON 26.94
$4.10MX$72.0
43.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.63RON 25.83
$10.17MX$178
-44.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26RON 5.79
$1.68MX$29.38
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 10.06
$2.53MX$44.31
-13.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48RON 2.21
$0.51MX$8.93
-5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.77RON 90.7
$26.04MX$457
-24.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79RON 3.62
$3.23MX$56.7
-75.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76RON 3.49
$2.41MX$42.19
-68.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.34RON 33.67
$3.23MX$56.6
127.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.34
$1.32MX$23.17
21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 130.3K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRON 124.3K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
14.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$209RON 961
$82.0MX$1,439
155.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.22RON 37.68
$22.95MX$403
-64.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.14RON 41.90
$30.11MX$528
-69.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.00RON 106
$52.0MX$912
-55.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.03RON 87.3
$18.53MX$325
2.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.53RON 16.21
$4.98MX$87.3
-29.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350RON 1,606
$197MX$3,463
77.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,148RON 42.0K
$5,336MX$93.6K
71.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1RON 321
$35.60MX$624
96.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.97RON 160
$40.33MX$707
-13.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.3RON 263
$78.8MX$1,381
-27.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.2RON 372
$88.9MX$1,560
-8.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382RON 1,752
$947MX$16.6K
-59.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288RON 1,321
$474MX$8,314
-39.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473RON 2,169
$1,644MX$28.8K
-71.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$426RON 1,954
$1,211MX$21.2K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,931RON 8,857
$4,056MX$71.1K
-52.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,410RON 6,468
$6,470MX$113.5K
-78.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targoviste
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$906RON 4,156
$654MX$11.5K
38.58%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Targoviste versus $947 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 $27.00 in Targoviste versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 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 24%, 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 $1,514 per month in Targoviste and $1,884 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,009 in Targoviste and $1,256 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 32% less in Targoviste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Targoviste or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targoviste, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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.
Targoviste vs other spots: cost of living compared