Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Targoviste Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Targoviste

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,033 in Targoviste, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,459 in Targoviste, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,884 in Targoviste, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Targoviste, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targoviste are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Targoviste 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$9.28 RON 41.96
-79.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$27.81 RON 126
-32.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$6.85 RON 30.96
14.16%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$2.27 RON 10.24
-14.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$1.51 RON 6.83
-43.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$1.44 RON 6.50
-75.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$2.34 RON 10.56
-8.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$3.02 RON 13.65
23.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.56 RON 7.04
9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.99 RON 4.49
64.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$1.65 RON 7.44
-30.91%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$2.82 RON 12.76
-31.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$3.54 RON 16.01
357.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$6.61 RON 29.88
-52.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$9.97 RON 45.05
9.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.23 RON 5.58
123.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.73 RON 7.82
-30.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.60 RON 7.23
1.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.89 RON 8.54
-15.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$1.04 RON 4.72
34.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$1.13 RON 5.11
3.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$0.83 RON 3.76
-20.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.74 RON 3.33
-28.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$6.12 RON 27.66
-23.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$5.64 RON 25.50
230.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.25 RON 5.64
44.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.19 RON 9.90
47.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$0.48 RON 2.15
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$19.47 RON 88.0
-1.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$0.80 RON 3.62
76.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$0.74 RON 3.37
74.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$7.45 RON 33.68
5.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.55 RON 6.99
-18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$28.5K RON 128.7K
-25.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$27.9K RON 125.9K
-20.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$210 RON 951
-67.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$7.86 RON 35.54
79.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$9.00 RON 40.69
100.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$23.06 RON 104
78.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$18.95 RON 85.7
-63.27%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$3.44 RON 15.54
72.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$352 RON 1,591
-15.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$8,857 RON 40.0K
68.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$69.2 RON 313
-20.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$34.09 RON 154
-21.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$56.6 RON 256
50.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$80.3 RON 363
-12.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$368 RON 1,663
16.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$287 RON 1,295
-17.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$486 RON 2,195
65.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$426 RON 1,927
20.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$1,680 RON 7,593
17.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$1,349 RON 6,097
9.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$923 RON 4,173
-33.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.28
-20.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $368 in Targoviste. 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 49% higher in Targoviste, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Targoviste. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Targoviste – so Targoviste 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
Chiang Mai vs Targoviste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
Targoviste costs about 19% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Targoviste?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,550 in Targoviste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Targoviste?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $352 in Targoviste. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
Interestingly, groceries are about 30% cheaper in Targoviste – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,033 in Targoviste, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,033 in Targoviste. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Targoviste?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Targoviste?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Targoviste makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities