Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $962 per month in Targu Frumos vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Targu Frumos vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,041 per month in Targu Frumos vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Frumos is about 26% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Targu Frumos and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Targu Frumos 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.69 RON 39.36

$11.96 MX$203

-27.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.94 RON 199

$47.38 MX$804

-7.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 RON 40.19

$11.75 MX$199

-24.51%

Cappuccino

$2.36 RON 10.70

$4.12 MX$70.0

-42.72%

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

$1.51 RON 6.83

$1.40 MX$23.74

7.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 RON 5.64

$0.91 MX$15.48

36.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 RON 8.87

$3.21 MX$54.4

-38.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 RON 10.83

$7.07 MX$120

-66.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 RON 6.75

$1.68 MX$28.44

-11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 RON 5.31

$2.15 MX$36.48

-45.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 RON 6.96

$1.77 MX$30.10

-12.99%

Eggs

$2.94 RON 13.33

$2.82 MX$47.76

4.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 RON 37.28

$9.20 MX$156

-10.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 RON 28.66

$9.23 MX$157

-31.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 RON 49.56

$12.64 MX$214

-13.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.57

$2.95 MX$50.1

-65.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.13

$1.58 MX$26.79

-14.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 RON 6.60

$2.22 MX$37.70

-34.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 RON 8.61

$2.36 MX$40.09

-19.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 RON 3.60

$1.99 MX$33.81

-60.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 RON 2.38

$1.98 MX$33.58

-73.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.91

$1.24 MX$21.04

-30.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RON 3.56

$1.21 MX$20.55

-34.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.16 RON 27.91

$4.60 MX$78.1

33.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 RON 34.05

$10.52 MX$178

-28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 RON 4.88

$1.69 MX$28.70

-36.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 RON 7.67

$2.77 MX$47.06

-38.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 RON 3.46

$0.60 MX$10.22

26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.62 RON 97.9

$29.70 MX$504

-27.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 3.97

$5.24 MX$88.8

-83.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 RON 3.86

$3.65 MX$61.9

-76.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 RON 36.69

$5.78 MX$98.1

40.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 RON 8.17

$1.54 MX$26.09

16.88%

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

$30.0K RON 135.7K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

31.41%

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

$26.8K RON 121.6K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

3.98%

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

$105 RON 477

$90.7 MX$1,538

16.07%

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

$9.78 RON 44.28

$25.19 MX$427

-61.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.44 RON 38.24

$31.75 MX$539

-73.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.78 RON 158

$68.8 MX$1,167

-49.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.76 RON 98.6

$29.37 MX$498

-25.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 RON 29.88

$4.86 MX$82.5

35.80%

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

$442 RON 2,000

$226 MX$3,828

95.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,364 RON 33.3K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

75.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 RON 248

$47.38 MX$804

15.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.32 RON 142

$43.45 MX$737

-27.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 RON 357

$80.2 MX$1,361

-1.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.4 RON 373

$91.4 MX$1,550

-9.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$355 RON 1,610

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-67.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$341 RON 1,545

$409 MX$6,933

-16.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 RON 2,621

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-70.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 RON 2,006

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-65.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,060 RON 9,328

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-49.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,604 RON 7,263

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-76.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.47

11.45

-34.76%

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

Last update for Targu Frumos: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $355 in Targu Frumos 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Targu Frumos versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $278 – making Targu Frumos 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

Targu Frumos vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 36%, 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 $1,444 per month in Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos, 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 $962 in Targu Frumos 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 37% less in Targu Frumos. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Targu Frumos, where all-in costs run around $962, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Targu Frumos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Targu Frumos – 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 Targu Frumos. 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.