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 $964 per month in Targoviste vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Targoviste vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,854 per month in Targoviste vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targoviste is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Targoviste and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Targoviste 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 RON 35.29

$11.60 MX$200

-33.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.08 RON 124

$47.11 MX$812

-42.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.58 RON 30.18

$11.88 MX$205

-44.61%

Cappuccino

$2.19 RON 10.03

$3.98 MX$68.6

-44.97%

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

$1.44 RON 6.62

$1.43 MX$24.60

0.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 RON 6.36

$0.82 MX$14.22

69.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 RON 10.03

$3.19 MX$55.0

-31.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 RON 12.97

$6.79 MX$117

-58.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RON 6.13

$1.68 MX$28.89

-20.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 RON 4.18

$2.20 MX$37.88

-58.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 RON 6.92

$1.71 MX$29.45

-11.70%

Eggs

$2.73 RON 12.51

$2.74 MX$47.26

-0.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.31 RON 15.18

$9.58 MX$165

-65.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 RON 30.90

$9.01 MX$155

-25.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 RON 55.8

$12.81 MX$221

-5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.65

$2.89 MX$49.81

-65.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 RON 7.05

$1.50 MX$25.81

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 RON 7.08

$2.15 MX$37.03

-28.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 RON 8.45

$2.26 MX$38.96

-18.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.76

$1.98 MX$34.15

-58.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 RON 4.35

$1.99 MX$34.30

-52.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 RON 3.35

$1.23 MX$21.28

-40.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RON 3.41

$1.20 MX$20.63

-38.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.10 RON 27.97

$4.55 MX$78.5

34.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 RON 26.71

$10.37 MX$179

-43.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 RON 5.58

$1.62 MX$27.91

-24.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 RON 7.25

$2.88 MX$49.67

-45.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 RON 2.10

$0.60 MX$10.35

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.00 RON 106

$28.80 MX$497

-20.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 RON 2.98

$5.39 MX$92.9

-87.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 RON 2.90

$3.73 MX$64.3

-83.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 RON 31.15

$5.77 MX$99.5

17.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.47

$1.54 MX$26.48

5.84%

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

$29.2K RON 133.8K

$22.5K MX$388.8K

29.30%

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

$27.2K RON 124.9K

$26.1K MX$449.3K

4.50%

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

$208 RON 953

$91.4 MX$1,576

127.36%

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

$7.71 RON 35.38

$25.20 MX$435

-69.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.68 RON 39.83

$31.24 MX$539

-72.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.28 RON 102

$67.2 MX$1,159

-66.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.50 RON 98.7

$29.11 MX$502

-26.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 RON 15.57

$4.86 MX$83.8

-30.25%

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

$335 RON 1,538

$224 MX$3,856

49.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,641 RON 39.6K

$4,229 MX$72.9K

104.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 RON 272

$47.10 MX$812

26.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.36 RON 153

$44.29 MX$764

-24.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.0 RON 257

$80.1 MX$1,381

-30.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 RON 358

$92.7 MX$1,598

-15.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 RON 1,675

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-65.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 RON 1,293

$390 MX$6,728

-27.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 RON 2,144

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-78.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 RON 1,931

$1,272 MX$21.9K

-66.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 RON 8,861

$4,001 MX$69.0K

-51.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,380 RON 6,334

$6,502 MX$112.1K

-78.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$924 RON 4,239

$758 MX$13.1K

21.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

11.45

-40.26%

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

Last update for Targoviste: September 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Targoviste versus $1,063 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 22% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $276 – 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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,446 per month in Targoviste and $1,899 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 Targoviste, 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 $964 in Targoviste and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Targoviste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Targoviste, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Targoviste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.