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 $1,061 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,043 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,668 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,292 in Almaty, rent included.

Targu Mures costs about 2% more than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Targu Mures and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 21% lower, Almaty 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.79 RON 39.91
$7.86 ₸3,828
11.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.85 RON 185
$39.65 ₸19.3K
3.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 RON 39.86
$7.01 ₸3,417
25.25%
Cappuccino
$2.28 RON 10.35
$2.33 ₸1,137
-2.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 RON 5.72
$0.99 ₸481
27.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 RON 5.24
$0.57 ₸278
101.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 RON 9.81
$1.39 ₸679
55.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 RON 12.34
$2.90 ₸1,412
-6.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 RON 7.27
$1.33 ₸647
20.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 RON 5.51
$0.56 ₸272
116.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 RON 7.20
$1.48 ₸723
7.43%
Eggs
$2.98 RON 13.53
$1.72 ₸839
73.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.87 RON 40.26
$9.77 ₸4,759
-9.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 RON 31.36
$4.72 ₸2,299
46.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.30 RON 55.9
$7.47 ₸3,642
64.66%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.41
$1.35 ₸659
-28.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 RON 6.01
$1.88 ₸916
-29.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 RON 6.74
$1.95 ₸951
-23.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 RON 8.68
$2.00 ₸974
-4.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 RON 3.97
$0.63 ₸305
38.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 RON 4.02
$0.42 ₸206
111.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 RON 3.58
$1.29 ₸626
-38.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 RON 3.66
$0.69 ₸337
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06 RON 27.52
$1.90 ₸924
218.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.80 RON 35.41
$10.10 ₸4,923
-22.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 RON 4.74
$0.83 ₸405
25.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 RON 7.62
$2.06 ₸1,003
-18.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 RON 2.70
$0.24 ₸118
145.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.77 RON 67.1
$18.17 ₸8,855
-18.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 RON 4.01
$1.20 ₸584
-26.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 RON 3.24
$0.68 ₸329
4.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.50 RON 34.06
$4.82 ₸2,348
55.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 RON 6.91
$0.48 ₸232
216.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K RON 124.8K
$23.3K ₸11.4M
17.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K RON 126.8K
$26.7K ₸13.0M
4.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 RON 766
$62.3 ₸30.4K
170.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60 RON 39.05
$8.53 ₸4,155
0.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.90 RON 44.96
$13.73 ₸6,692
-27.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.97 RON 213
$47.82 ₸23.3K
-1.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.22 RON 82.7
$21.14 ₸10.3K
-13.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67 RON 25.73
$5.37 ₸2,615
5.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 RON 6,254
$264 ₸128.6K
421.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,946 RON 31.5K
$12.9K ₸6.3M
-46.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 RON 328
$84.6 ₸41.2K
-14.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.87 RON 149
$44.14 ₸21.5K
-25.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 RON 328
$98.0 ₸47.8K
-26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.8 RON 371
$122 ₸59.4K
-32.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 RON 1,996
$658 ₸320.6K
-33.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 RON 1,415
$420 ₸204.6K
-25.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$567 RON 2,576
$1,190 ₸580.1K
-52.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 RON 1,810
$766 ₸373.1K
-47.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,355 RON 10.7K
$2,165 ₸1.1M
8.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,505 RON 6,830
$1,291 ₸629.1K
16.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Mures
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,066 RON 4,840
$767 ₸373.7K
39.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.17
18.39
-55.57%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: June 8, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures versus $658 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 39% higher in Targu Mures, 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 $41.00 in Targu Mures versus $40.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $187 – making Almaty the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 – Targu Mures is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,592 per month in Targu Mures and $1,565 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 Almaty, 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 Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Targu Mures and $40.00 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 vs Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,061 in Targu Mures and $1,043 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Targu Mures or Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Almaty, where all-in costs run around $1,043, than in Targu Mures at $1,061. In Almaty it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Mures it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Targu Mures or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Almaty – 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 Almaty. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Targu Mures makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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