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 $1,036 per month in Targu Jiu vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,614 per month in Targu Jiu vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Targu Jiu vs $3,362 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 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.26 RON 64.6

$11.96 MX$203

19.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 RON 279

$47.38 MX$804

30.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 RON 34.15

$11.75 MX$199

-35.83%

Cappuccino

$3.58 RON 16.23

$4.12 MX$70.0

-13.11%

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

$1.13 RON 5.12

$1.40 MX$23.74

-19.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 RON 10.70

$0.91 MX$15.48

159.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 RON 17.53

$3.21 MX$54.4

20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 RON 20.61

$7.07 MX$120

-35.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 RON 8.13

$1.68 MX$28.44

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.41

$2.15 MX$36.48

-33.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.80

$1.77 MX$30.10

-2.82%

Eggs

$2.88 RON 13.02

$2.82 MX$47.76

2.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 RON 36.06

$9.20 MX$156

-13.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 RON 13.88

$9.23 MX$157

-66.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 RON 34.33

$12.64 MX$214

-40.03%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.47

$2.95 MX$50.1

-66.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.58 MX$26.79

0.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 RON 5.48

$2.22 MX$37.70

-45.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 RON 5.90

$2.36 MX$40.09

-44.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.71

$1.99 MX$33.81

-58.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.43

$1.98 MX$33.58

-61.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 RON 3.09

$1.24 MX$21.04

-45.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 RON 2.43

$1.21 MX$20.55

-55.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 RON 24.65

$4.60 MX$78.1

18.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.09 RON 13.98

$10.52 MX$178

-70.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RON 3.89

$1.69 MX$28.70

-49.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.09

$2.77 MX$47.06

-59.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 RON 3.70

$0.60 MX$10.22

36.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.14 RON 91.2

$29.70 MX$504

-32.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$5.24 MX$88.8

-87.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.13

$3.65 MX$61.9

-81.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 RON 30.34

$5.78 MX$98.1

15.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.14

$1.54 MX$26.09

2.60%

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

$30.1K RON 136.5K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

32.16%

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

$28.4K RON 128.4K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

9.84%

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

$201 RON 909

$90.7 MX$1,538

121.33%

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

$6.28 RON 28.43

$25.19 MX$427

-75.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 RON 44.92

$31.75 MX$539

-68.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 RON 180

$68.8 MX$1,167

-42.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.70 RON 89.2

$29.37 MX$498

-32.92%

Cinema Ticket

$8.83 RON 39.98

$4.86 MX$82.5

81.69%

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

$648 RON 2,934

$226 MX$3,828

187.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 RON 32.5K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

71.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 RON 242

$47.38 MX$804

12.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 RON 119

$43.45 MX$737

-39.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 RON 246

$80.2 MX$1,361

-32.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 RON 395

$91.4 MX$1,550

-4.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 RON 1,630

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-66.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 RON 1,131

$409 MX$6,933

-38.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 RON 2,267

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-74.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 RON 1,888

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-67.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,916 RON 8,679

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-52.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,268 RON 5,741

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-81.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 RON 2,515

$773 MX$13.1K

-28.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

11.45

-40.44%

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

Last update for Targu Jiu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Targu Jiu 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.

Salaries run about 39% 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 $62.0 in Targu Jiu versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $164 in Targu Jiu vs $278 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 $1,555 per month in Targu Jiu 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 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 $1,036 in Targu Jiu 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 47% 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 $1,036, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.