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 $1,039 per month in Targu Jiu vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,627 per month in Targu Jiu vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,214 per month in Targu Jiu vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Jiu is about 18% 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 22% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.93 RON 60.5

$11.67 MX$202

19.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.5 RON 297

$41.88 MX$726

63.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.09 RON 35.10

$10.40 MX$180

-22.21%

Cappuccino

$3.44 RON 14.93

$3.61 MX$62.6

-4.71%

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

$1.17 RON 5.07

$1.47 MX$25.45

-20.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 RON 9.94

$0.91 MX$15.80

151.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 RON 15.29

$3.03 MX$52.6

16.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 RON 16.71

$4.47 MX$77.4

-13.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 RON 7.58

$1.38 MX$23.83

26.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.20

$1.84 MX$31.93

-22.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 RON 8.32

$1.61 MX$27.82

19.25%

Eggs

$3.08 RON 13.38

$2.57 MX$44.52

19.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 RON 34.59

$8.49 MX$147

-6.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 RON 14.31

$8.49 MX$147

-61.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 RON 34.95

$10.99 MX$190

-26.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.43

$2.73 MX$47.25

-62.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.14

$1.50 MX$25.92

9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 RON 5.41

$1.96 MX$33.93

-36.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 RON 5.93

$2.12 MX$36.70

-35.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.08

$1.86 MX$32.30

-49.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.17

$2.17 MX$37.67

-55.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 RON 3.06

$1.07 MX$18.59

-34.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 RON 2.45

$1.05 MX$18.18

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.66 RON 24.55

$4.19 MX$72.6

35.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.24 RON 14.06

$10.28 MX$178

-68.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 RON 4.06

$1.67 MX$28.87

-43.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 4.86

$2.49 MX$43.12

-55.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.11

$0.54 MX$9.37

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.69 RON 85.4

$26.27 MX$455

-25.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.05

$3.10 MX$53.8

-77.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.64

$2.46 MX$42.66

-75.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 RON 30.42

$3.24 MX$56.1

116.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 RON 7.25

$1.26 MX$21.83

32.54%

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

$28.8K RON 125.2K

$30.2K MX$522.8K

-4.39%

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

$29.9K RON 129.8K

$23.4K MX$406.3K

27.55%

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

$178 RON 771

$84.0 MX$1,456

111.47%

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

$6.41 RON 27.82

$22.21 MX$385

-71.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.25 RON 44.49

$29.65 MX$514

-65.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.67 RON 181

$52.6 MX$912

-20.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.38 RON 84.1

$18.34 MX$318

5.67%

Cinema Ticket

$9.38 RON 40.71

$4.95 MX$85.7

89.49%

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

$670 RON 2,906

$198 MX$3,438

237.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K RON 63.0K

$5,322 MX$92.2K

172.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 RON 242

$35.95 MX$623

55.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 RON 118

$40.06 MX$694

-32.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.8 RON 247

$78.8 MX$1,365

-27.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.7 RON 407

$86.5 MX$1,499

8.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$375 RON 1,627

$977 MX$16.9K

-61.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 RON 1,084

$471 MX$8,158

-46.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 RON 2,287

$1,595 MX$27.6K

-66.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,911

$1,215 MX$21.1K

-63.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 RON 12.1K

$4,032 MX$69.9K

-30.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$114.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 RON 2,454

$714 MX$12.4K

-20.82%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $375 in Targu Jiu versus $977 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 26% 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 in Targu Jiu versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $171 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 21%, 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 $1,559 per month in Targu Jiu and $1,891 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 $1,039 in Targu Jiu and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% 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 $1,039, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. 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.