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 $1,056 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,678 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,036 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,301 in Almaty, rent included.

Targu Mures costs about 1% 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 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.46 RON 38.78

$7.98 ₸3,791

6.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.85 RON 183

$38.49 ₸18.3K

3.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 RON 40.30

$6.74 ₸3,201

30.42%

Cappuccino

$2.19 RON 10.05

$2.41 ₸1,144

-9.13%

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

$1.32 RON 6.03

$0.97 ₸461

36.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.26

$0.56 ₸266

105.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.32

$1.34 ₸635

67.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 RON 12.75

$2.96 ₸1,407

-6.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 RON 7.41

$1.31 ₸622

23.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$0.60 ₸284

103.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.31

$1.54 ₸730

3.25%

Eggs

$2.92 RON 13.40

$1.73 ₸823

68.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.68 RON 39.78

$9.28 ₸4,406

-6.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 RON 31.83

$4.66 ₸2,212

48.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.63 RON 57.9

$7.82 ₸3,713

61.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.66

$1.34 ₸637

-23.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.04

$1.87 ₸890

-29.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.97

$1.88 ₸894

-19.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 RON 9.03

$2.08 ₸988

-5.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$0.59 ₸280

54.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.28

$0.40 ₸190

132.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$1.23 ₸586

-36.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.65

$0.71 ₸336

12.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 RON 28.67

$1.97 ₸935

217.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 RON 33.89

$10.79 ₸5,124

-31.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.81

$0.89 ₸425

17.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RON 7.40

$2.14 ₸1,014

-24.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 RON 2.58

$0.24 ₸114

133.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.04 RON 68.9

$17.74 ₸8,425

-15.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.13

$1.15 ₸545

-21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$0.70 ₸333

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 RON 34.47

$4.70 ₸2,234

60.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.39

$0.48 ₸227

235.42%

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

$27.8K RON 127.6K

$23.2K ₸11.0M

19.91%

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

$28.5K RON 130.8K

$27.3K ₸13.0M

4.42%

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

$167 RON 765

$62.3 ₸29.6K

167.87%

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

$8.53 RON 39.09

$8.94 ₸4,246

-4.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.05 RON 46.10

$13.69 ₸6,500

-26.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.19 RON 212

$48.48 ₸23.0K

-4.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.49 RON 84.8

$21.89 ₸10.4K

-15.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 RON 26.73

$5.10 ₸2,422

14.31%

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

$1,378 RON 6,320

$267 ₸127.0K

415.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,028 RON 32.2K

$12.9K ₸6.1M

-45.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 RON 334

$84.1 ₸39.9K

-13.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.90 RON 146

$44.36 ₸21.1K

-28.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 RON 339

$99.2 ₸47.1K

-25.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 RON 368

$118 ₸55.9K

-31.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 2,019

$663 ₸314.8K

-33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,445

$421 ₸199.8K

-25.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 RON 2,563

$1,160 ₸551.0K

-51.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 RON 1,864

$763 ₸362.2K

-46.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 RON 10.5K

$2,421 ₸1.1M

-5.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 RON 6,898

$1,409 ₸669.2K

6.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 RON 4,869

$810 ₸384.8K

31.06%

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Almaty: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures versus $663 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 31% 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 $40.00 in Targu Mures versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $189 – 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

Yes – Targu Mures is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,592 per month in Targu Mures and $1,583 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Targu Mures and $38.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,061 in Targu Mures and $1,056 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Almaty, where all-in costs run around $1,056, 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.

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.

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.

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.