Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $993 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,367 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,532 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,121 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,071 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,876 in Almaty, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 27% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Targu Mures and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 28% lower, Almaty 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.12 RON 41.16
$13.05 ₸5,923
-30.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.14 RON 204
$44.41 ₸20.2K
1.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 RON 39.09
$8.66 ₸3,930
-
Cappuccino
$2.40 RON 10.83
$3.29 ₸1,496
-27.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 RON 7.15
$1.34 ₸607
17.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 RON 5.83
$0.82 ₸370
57.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 RON 8.81
$2.35 ₸1,068
-17.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 RON 11.24
$3.90 ₸1,768
-36.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 RON 6.41
$1.72 ₸782
-17.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 RON 5.04
$0.81 ₸369
38.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 RON 6.93
$2.05 ₸931
-25.37%
Eggs
$2.99 RON 13.49
$2.42 ₸1,097
23.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.50 RON 38.36
$12.42 ₸5,640
-31.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.24 RON 28.18
$6.78 ₸3,076
-7.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.62 RON 47.96
$11.06 ₸5,020
-3.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 RON 4.65
$1.93 ₸875
-46.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 RON 6.03
$2.32 ₸1,053
-42.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 RON 6.61
$3.00 ₸1,364
-51.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 RON 8.57
$2.70 ₸1,226
-29.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 RON 3.42
$0.77 ₸349
-1.30%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 RON 2.54
$0.58 ₸263
-3.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 RON 3.89
$1.68 ₸761
-48.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 RON 3.39
$0.99 ₸450
-24.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.22 RON 28.10
$2.65 ₸1,202
134.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.95 RON 35.88
$11.04 ₸5,013
-27.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 RON 5.06
$1.23 ₸557
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 RON 7.42
$2.34 ₸1,063
-29.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 RON 2.88
$0.25 ₸113
156.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 RON 122
$21.52 ₸9,769
25.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 RON 4.07
$1.30 ₸591
-30.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 RON 4.10
$0.64 ₸290
42.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 RON 36.46
$10.83 ₸4,916
-25.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 RON 8.43
$0.70 ₸319
167.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K RON 134.6K
$22.3K ₸10.1M
33.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K RON 120.2K
$29.4K ₸13.3M
-9.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 RON 477
$91.2 ₸41.4K
15.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.81 RON 44.29
$10.56 ₸4,794
-7.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.36 RON 37.73
$17.45 ₸7,922
-52.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.43 RON 196
$75.0 ₸34.0K
-42.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 RON 87.3
$30.33 ₸13.8K
-36.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 RON 30.53
$6.59 ₸2,990
2.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,374 RON 6,203
$434 ₸197.2K
216.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.7K ₸5.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 RON 254
$88.4 ₸40.1K
-36.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.54 RON 142
$47.17 ₸21.4K
-33.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 RON 365
$142 ₸64.3K
-42.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 RON 369
$132 ₸59.7K
-37.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 RON 2,004
$817 ₸370.7K
-45.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 RON 1,386
$501 ₸227.5K
-38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 RON 3,010
$1,439 ₸653.3K
-53.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 RON 2,281
$901 ₸409.1K
-43.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,388 RON 10.8K
$2,476 ₸1.1M
-3.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,511 RON 6,820
$1,521 ₸690.3K
-0.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,042 RON 4,704
$857 ₸389.2K
21.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.47
20.61
-63.76%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: September 5, 2026

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Targu Mures versus $817 in Almaty. 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 Targu Mures, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Targu Mures versus $44.00 in Almaty. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Targu Mures vs $252 in Almaty – so Targu Mures 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 Mures vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Targu Mures?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,489 per month in Targu Mures and $2,051 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Targu Mures, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Targu Mures or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Targu Mures and $44.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Targu Mures and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $993 in Targu Mures and $1,367 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Targu Mures or in Almaty?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Mures, where all-in costs run around $993, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Targu Mures it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Targu Mures or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Targu Mures – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Targu Mures or Almaty?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Targu Mures. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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