Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Targu Frumos Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Targu Frumos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,043 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,565 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,088 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targu Frumos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Targu Frumos 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$8.72 RON 37.83

-77.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$40.31 RON 175

-54.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$8.87 RON 38.49

-15.45%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$2.22 RON 9.62

-13.06%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.26 RON 5.47

-38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$1.10 RON 4.76

-70.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$2.13 RON 9.23

0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.83 RON 12.28

31.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.55 RON 6.71

10.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.22 RON 5.28

27.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.65 RON 7.18

-28.48%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$2.94 RON 12.75

-32.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$8.40 RON 36.46

90.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$7.11 RON 30.86

-55.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$12.70 RON 55.1

-13.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$0.99 RON 4.29

165.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.36 RON 5.89

-13.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.51 RON 6.57

9.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$1.99 RON 8.63

-22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.93 RON 4.04

48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.94 RON 4.08

24.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.75 RON 3.26

-12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.80 RON 3.48

-36.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$6.23 RON 27.02

-27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$8.24 RON 35.78

122.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.04 RON 4.52

73.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.68 RON 7.30

89.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.72 RON 3.13

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$19.82 RON 86.0

-4.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.93 RON 4.05

51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.66 RON 2.85

98.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$7.45 RON 32.35

8.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.53 RON 6.64

-16.34%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$28.2K RON 122.4K

-24.52%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$28.1K RON 121.8K

-22.66%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$170 RON 737

-59.24%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$8.65 RON 37.53

61.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$10.07 RON 43.72

78.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$40.95 RON 178

3.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$19.49 RON 84.6

-65.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$5.79 RON 25.12

2.25%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$436 RON 1,892

-31.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$6,824 RON 29.6K

117.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$71.0 RON 308

-20.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$32.57 RON 141

-17.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$74.8 RON 325

13.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$79.9 RON 347

-10.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$394 RON 1,708

10.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$292 RON 1,266

-17.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$598 RON 2,594

33.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$432 RON 1,877

15.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$1,721 RON 7,469

15.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,382 RON 5,997

10.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

-38.80%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $394 in Targu Frumos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18 in Chiang Mai versus $40 in Targu Frumos. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Targu Frumos – so Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Frumos costs about 23% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,564 in Targu Frumos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $436 in Targu Frumos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Targu Frumos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Targu Frumos at $1,043. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Frumos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,043 in Targu Frumos. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Targu Frumos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.