Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Mures and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $993 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,532 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,071 per month in Targu Mures vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Targu Mures and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 28% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.12 RON 41.16

$11.96 MX$203

-23.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.14 RON 204

$47.38 MX$803

-4.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 RON 39.09

$11.75 MX$199

-26.30%

Cappuccino

$2.40 RON 10.83

$4.12 MX$69.9

-41.75%

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

$1.58 RON 7.15

$1.40 MX$23.71

12.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$0.91 MX$15.46

41.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 RON 8.81

$3.21 MX$54.3

-39.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 RON 11.24

$7.07 MX$120

-64.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 RON 6.41

$1.68 MX$28.40

-15.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 RON 5.04

$2.15 MX$36.43

-47.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 RON 6.93

$1.77 MX$30.06

-13.56%

Eggs

$2.99 RON 13.49

$2.82 MX$47.69

6.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 RON 38.36

$9.20 MX$156

-7.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 RON 28.18

$9.23 MX$156

-32.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 RON 47.96

$12.64 MX$214

-15.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.65

$2.95 MX$49.99

-65.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 RON 6.03

$1.58 MX$26.75

-15.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 RON 6.61

$2.22 MX$37.65

-34.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 RON 8.57

$2.36 MX$40.03

-19.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.42

$1.99 MX$33.76

-61.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 RON 2.54

$1.98 MX$33.53

-71.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.89

$1.24 MX$21.01

-30.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 RON 3.39

$1.21 MX$20.52

-38.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 RON 28.10

$4.60 MX$78.0

35.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 RON 35.88

$10.52 MX$178

-24.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.06

$1.69 MX$28.66

-33.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$2.77 MX$47.00

-40.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 RON 2.88

$0.60 MX$10.21

6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.06 RON 122

$29.70 MX$503

-8.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$5.24 MX$88.7

-82.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RON 4.10

$3.65 MX$61.8

-75.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 RON 36.46

$5.78 MX$98.0

39.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RON 8.43

$1.54 MX$26.06

21.43%

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

$29.8K RON 134.6K

$22.8K MX$386.3K

30.71%

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

$26.6K RON 120.2K

$25.8K MX$437.3K

3.12%

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

$106 RON 477

$90.7 MX$1,536

16.60%

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

$9.81 RON 44.29

$25.19 MX$427

-61.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.36 RON 37.73

$31.75 MX$538

-73.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.43 RON 196

$68.8 MX$1,165

-36.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 RON 87.3

$29.37 MX$498

-34.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 RON 30.53

$4.86 MX$82.4

39.09%

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

$1,374 RON 6,203

$226 MX$3,823

508.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 RON 254

$47.38 MX$803

18.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.54 RON 142

$43.45 MX$736

-27.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 RON 365

$80.2 MX$1,359

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 RON 369

$91.4 MX$1,548

-10.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,004

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-59.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 RON 1,386

$409 MX$6,923

-24.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 RON 3,010

$1,972 MX$33.4K

-66.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 RON 2,281

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-60.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,388 RON 10.8K

$4,046 MX$68.5K

-40.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 RON 6,820

$6,704 MX$113.6K

-77.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 RON 4,704

$773 MX$13.1K

34.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.47

11.45

-34.76%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Targu Mures 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 35% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $278 – making Targu Mures 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, 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 $1,489 per month in Targu Mures 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 Mures, 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 $993 in Targu Mures 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 10% less in Targu Mures. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Targu Mures, where all-in costs run around $993, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Targu Mures 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 Mures – 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 Targu Mures. 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.