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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,027 per month in Targu Jiu vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Targu Jiu vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,255 per month in Targu Jiu vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Jiu is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.95 RON 63.4

$11.73 MX$205

18.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.1 RON 310

$41.62 MX$727

63.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 RON 36.41

$10.64 MX$186

-24.72%

Cappuccino

$3.35 RON 15.25

$3.52 MX$61.5

-4.83%

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

$1.13 RON 5.13

$1.51 MX$26.38

-25.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 RON 10.91

$0.97 MX$17.01

147.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 RON 16.02

$2.95 MX$51.5

19.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 RON 17.56

$4.45 MX$77.8

-13.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.89

$1.38 MX$24.17

25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 RON 6.24

$1.89 MX$33.04

-27.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.70

$1.64 MX$28.60

16.46%

Eggs

$3.01 RON 13.67

$2.51 MX$43.77

19.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 RON 36.03

$8.34 MX$146

-4.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 RON 14.42

$8.34 MX$146

-61.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 RON 36.28

$10.73 MX$187

-25.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.60

$2.60 MX$45.49

-61.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.44

$1.46 MX$25.45

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 RON 5.72

$1.90 MX$33.20

-33.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 RON 6.11

$2.08 MX$36.27

-35.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 RON 4.00

$1.78 MX$31.02

-50.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.60

$2.19 MX$38.17

-53.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$1.04 MX$18.17

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 RON 2.69

$1.08 MX$18.81

-45.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.60 RON 25.48

$4.08 MX$71.3

37.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.03 RON 13.76

$10.32 MX$180

-70.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 RON 4.31

$1.71 MX$29.91

-44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.15

$2.58 MX$44.99

-56.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$0.51 MX$8.90

31.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 RON 91.7

$26.46 MX$462

-23.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$3.26 MX$57.0

-77.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.79

$2.49 MX$43.52

-75.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 RON 31.12

$3.25 MX$56.7

110.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 RON 7.65

$1.31 MX$22.84

28.24%

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

$28.8K RON 131.1K

$30.3K MX$528.9K

-4.72%

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

$30.8K RON 139.9K

$23.4K MX$409.3K

31.34%

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

$179 RON 813

$82.9 MX$1,448

115.82%

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

$6.43 RON 29.24

$22.22 MX$388

-71.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.49 RON 47.70

$29.34 MX$513

-64.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.16 RON 187

$51.6 MX$902

-20.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.45 RON 88.4

$18.32 MX$320

6.17%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 RON 42.21

$5.07 MX$88.5

83.23%

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

$656 RON 2,982

$201 MX$3,508

226.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K RON 66.2K

$5,212 MX$91.0K

179.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 RON 252

$36.92 MX$645

50.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 RON 128

$39.79 MX$695

-29.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.0 RON 259

$78.5 MX$1,370

-27.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 RON 417

$87.1 MX$1,521

5.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 RON 1,702

$973 MX$17.0K

-61.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 RON 1,164

$468 MX$8,171

-45.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 RON 2,374

$1,641 MX$28.7K

-68.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,966

$1,221 MX$21.3K

-64.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,632 RON 12.0K

$3,946 MX$68.9K

-33.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$544 RON 2,474

$664 MX$11.6K

-18.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

11.42

-37.83%

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

Last update for Targu Jiu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $374 in Targu Jiu 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 22% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Targu Jiu versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Targu Jiu vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Targu Jiu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,541 per month in Targu Jiu and $1,945 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 Jiu, 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 $1,027 in Targu Jiu and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 31% less in Targu Jiu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Jiu, where all-in costs run around $1,027, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Targu Jiu 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 Jiu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Targu Jiu. 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.