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 $1,013 per month in Targu Jiu vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,622 per month in Targu Jiu vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,231 per month in Targu Jiu vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Jiu is about 19% 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 24% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.84 RON 63.4

$11.95 MX$208

15.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.8 RON 310

$41.94 MX$731

61.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 RON 37.19

$10.42 MX$182

-22.07%

Cappuccino

$3.32 RON 15.18

$3.51 MX$61.3

-5.41%

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

$1.13 RON 5.15

$1.52 MX$26.44

-25.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 RON 11.00

$0.91 MX$15.88

163.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 RON 15.33

$3.04 MX$53.0

10.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 RON 18.15

$4.37 MX$76.2

-9.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 RON 8.11

$1.42 MX$24.78

24.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.50

$1.83 MX$31.93

-22.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 RON 8.48

$1.63 MX$28.51

13.50%

Eggs

$3.02 RON 13.83

$2.54 MX$44.29

18.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 RON 36.47

$8.57 MX$149

-7.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 RON 14.46

$8.49 MX$148

-62.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 RON 35.20

$10.80 MX$188

-28.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.68

$2.75 MX$48.04

-62.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.21

$1.44 MX$25.05

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 RON 5.97

$1.89 MX$32.90

-31.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.42

$2.17 MX$37.84

-35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.14

$1.78 MX$31.03

-49.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.48

$2.22 MX$38.79

-55.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 RON 3.02

$1.07 MX$18.64

-38.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 RON 2.74

$1.08 MX$18.83

-44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.66 RON 25.92

$4.15 MX$72.3

36.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.12 RON 14.30

$10.45 MX$182

-70.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RON 4.39

$1.74 MX$30.40

-44.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 RON 5.34

$2.58 MX$45.01

-54.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 RON 3.21

$0.51 MX$8.95

37.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.96 RON 91.4

$25.94 MX$452

-23.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.07

$3.21 MX$56.0

-79.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.77

$2.50 MX$43.64

-75.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 RON 30.83

$3.19 MX$55.6

110.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 RON 7.73

$1.26 MX$21.91

34.13%

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

$29.2K RON 133.6K

$29.7K MX$517.7K

-1.70%

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

$30.7K RON 140.6K

$23.7K MX$413.0K

29.65%

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

$178 RON 814

$82.0 MX$1,430

116.71%

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

$6.63 RON 30.35

$22.73 MX$396

-70.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.21 RON 46.75

$29.42 MX$513

-65.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.73 RON 187

$52.2 MX$910

-21.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.42 RON 88.9

$18.45 MX$322

5.26%

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 RON 42.25

$4.93 MX$86.0

87.22%

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

$657 RON 3,009

$202 MX$3,519

225.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K RON 67.6K

$5,217 MX$91.0K

182.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 RON 248

$35.93 MX$627

50.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 RON 128

$40.33 MX$703

-30.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.3 RON 262

$79.9 MX$1,393

-28.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.9 RON 430

$89.3 MX$1,557

5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 RON 1,721

$948 MX$16.5K

-60.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 RON 1,167

$465 MX$8,114

-45.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 RON 2,385

$1,630 MX$28.4K

-68.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,980

$1,193 MX$20.8K

-63.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,646 RON 12.1K

$3,933 MX$68.6K

-32.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 RON 2,535

$658 MX$11.5K

-15.89%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $376 in Targu Jiu versus $948 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 19% 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 – $169 in Targu Jiu vs $252 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 24%, 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 $1,520 per month in Targu Jiu and $1,888 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 $1,013 in Targu Jiu and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% 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 $1,013, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. 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.