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 $1,061 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,036 per month in Targu Mures vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Targu Mures is about 16% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Targu Mures and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.46 RON 38.78

$11.95 MX$209

-29.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.85 RON 183

$41.94 MX$733

-4.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 RON 40.30

$10.42 MX$182

-15.64%

Cappuccino

$2.19 RON 10.05

$3.51 MX$61.4

-37.61%

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

$1.32 RON 6.03

$1.52 MX$26.50

-13.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.26

$0.91 MX$15.91

26.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.32

$3.04 MX$53.1

-25.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 RON 12.75

$4.37 MX$76.4

-36.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 RON 7.41

$1.42 MX$24.84

14.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$1.83 MX$32.00

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.31

$1.63 MX$28.57

-2.45%

Eggs

$2.92 RON 13.40

$2.54 MX$44.38

14.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.68 RON 39.78

$8.57 MX$150

1.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 RON 31.83

$8.49 MX$148

-18.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.63 RON 57.9

$10.80 MX$189

16.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.66

$2.75 MX$48.14

-62.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.04

$1.44 MX$25.10

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.97

$1.89 MX$32.97

-19.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 RON 9.03

$2.17 MX$37.93

-9.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$1.78 MX$31.10

-48.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.28

$2.22 MX$38.87

-58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$1.07 MX$18.68

-27.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.65

$1.08 MX$18.87

-25.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.25 RON 28.67

$4.15 MX$72.5

50.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 RON 33.89

$10.45 MX$183

-29.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.81

$1.74 MX$30.47

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 RON 7.40

$2.58 MX$45.11

-37.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 RON 2.58

$0.51 MX$8.97

9.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.04 RON 68.9

$25.94 MX$453

-42.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.13

$3.21 MX$56.1

-71.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$2.50 MX$43.73

-71.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.52 RON 34.47

$3.19 MX$55.7

135.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.39

$1.26 MX$21.96

27.78%

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

$27.8K RON 127.6K

$29.7K MX$518.8K

-6.26%

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

$28.5K RON 130.8K

$23.7K MX$413.9K

20.40%

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

$167 RON 765

$82.0 MX$1,434

103.38%

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

$8.53 RON 39.09

$22.73 MX$397

-62.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.05 RON 46.10

$29.42 MX$514

-65.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.19 RON 212

$52.2 MX$912

-11.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.49 RON 84.8

$18.45 MX$322

0.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 RON 26.73

$4.93 MX$86.2

18.26%

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

$1,378 RON 6,320

$202 MX$3,526

583.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,028 RON 32.2K

$5,217 MX$91.2K

34.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.9 RON 334

$35.93 MX$628

102.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.90 RON 146

$40.33 MX$705

-20.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 RON 339

$79.9 MX$1,396

-7.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 RON 368

$89.3 MX$1,561

-10.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 2,019

$948 MX$16.6K

-53.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,445

$465 MX$8,132

-32.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$559 RON 2,563

$1,630 MX$28.5K

-65.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 RON 1,864

$1,193 MX$20.8K

-65.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,294 RON 10.5K

$3,933 MX$68.7K

-41.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 RON 6,898

$6,428 MX$112.3K

-76.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 RON 4,869

$658 MX$11.5K

61.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

11.42

-28.46%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: July 19, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures versus $948 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 61% 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 $40.00 in Targu Mures versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $252 – 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 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,888 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 $1,061 in Targu Mures and $1,259 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 72% 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 $1,061, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,259. 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.