๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,043 in Targu Frumos versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Targu Frumos versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Targu Frumos versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Targu Frumos costs roughly 29% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Frumos is 22% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.72RONย 37.83
$13.30MX$231
-34.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.31RONย 175
$53.8MX$932
-25.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.87RONย 38.49
$9.42MX$163
-5.84%
Cappuccino
$2.22RONย 9.62
$3.59MX$62.3
-38.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26RONย 5.47
$1.62MX$28.13
-22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10RONย 4.76
$1.12MX$19.49
-1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13RONย 9.23
$3.25MX$56.3
-34.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83RONย 12.28
$4.65MX$80.6
-39.14%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55RONย 6.71
$1.64MX$28.37
-5.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RONย 5.28
$2.65MX$46.00
-53.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65RONย 7.18
$1.96MX$33.99
-15.82%
Eggs
$2.94RONย 12.75
$2.54MX$44.08
15.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.40RONย 36.46
$9.97MX$173
-15.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.11RONย 30.86
$8.39MX$145
-15.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70RONย 55.1
$11.83MX$205
7.35%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99RONย 4.29
$2.86MX$49.62
-65.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36RONย 5.89
$1.73MX$30.05
-21.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51RONย 6.57
$1.99MX$34.50
-24.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99RONย 8.63
$2.05MX$35.51
-2.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RONย 4.04
$2.06MX$35.64
-54.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RONย 4.08
$2.28MX$39.54
-58.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75RONย 3.26
$1.45MX$25.05
-48.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RONย 3.48
$1.09MX$18.83
-26.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23RONย 27.02
$4.27MX$73.9
45.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24RONย 35.78
$14.67MX$254
-43.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RONย 4.52
$1.76MX$30.58
-40.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68RONย 7.30
$3.57MX$61.8
-52.94%
๐ Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RONย 3.13
$0.38MX$6.67
89.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.82RONย 86.0
$18.73MX$325
5.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93RONย 4.05
$1.39MX$24.09
-33.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RONย 2.85
$0.30MX$5.26
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45RONย 32.35
$5.41MX$93.8
37.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53RONย 6.64
$1.34MX$23.22
14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KRONย 122.4K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
49.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KRONย 121.8K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
20.97%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170RONย 737
$40.30MX$698
321.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.65RONย 37.53
$27.15MX$471
-68.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.07RONย 43.72
$29.46MX$510
-65.82%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.95RONย 178
$52.7MX$914
-22.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49RONย 84.6
$26.17MX$454
-25.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79RONย 25.12
$6.18MX$107
-6.31%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436RONย 1,892
$441MX$7,637
-1.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,824RONย 29.6K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-36.21%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0RONย 308
$57.2MX$992
24.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.57RONย 141
$45.04MX$781
-27.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.8RONย 325
$103MX$1,793
-27.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9RONย 347
$109MX$1,884
-26.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$394RONย 1,708
$1,000MX$17.3K
-60.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RONย 1,266
$632MX$11.0K
-53.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598RONย 2,594
$2,141MX$37.1K
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432RONย 1,877
$1,253MX$21.7K
-65.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,721RONย 7,469
$3,745MX$64.9K
-54.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,382RONย 5,997
$2,381MX$41.3K
-41.96%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.17
11.34
-27.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Targu Frumos: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $394 in Targu Frumos and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $40 in Targu Frumos vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $286 per month, with Targu Frumos cheaper across the board.
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
Targu Frumos vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Targu Frumos and Mexico City?
Targu Frumos and Mexico City differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,043 vs $1,466 including rent). Targu Frumos is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Targu Frumos compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,564 in Targu Frumos and $2,199 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Targu Frumos and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $394 in Targu Frumos versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Targu Frumos and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Targu Frumos runs roughly 6% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Targu Frumos and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $436 in Targu Frumos versus $441 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,043 in Targu Frumos versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Targu Frumos but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Frumos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Targu Frumos and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Targu Frumos or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Targu Frumos and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Targu Frumos or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Targu Frumos gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 41% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Targu Frumos vs other spots: cost of living compared