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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $962 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,501 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,041 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targu Frumos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Targu Frumos 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$8.69 RON 39.36

-75.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$43.94 RON 199

-54.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.87 RON 40.19

-34.72%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.36 RON 10.70

-22.46%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.51 RON 6.83

-48.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.24 RON 5.64

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.96 RON 8.87

19.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.39 RON 10.83

54.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.49 RON 6.75

36.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.17 RON 5.31

36.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.54 RON 6.96

-7.79%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.94 RON 13.33

-25.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$8.23 RON 37.28

93.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.33 RON 28.66

-51.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.94 RON 49.56

-9.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.01 RON 4.57

160.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.35 RON 6.13

-18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.46 RON 6.60

11.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.90 RON 8.61

-19.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.79 RON 3.60

56.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.52 RON 2.38

117.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.86 RON 3.91

-13.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.79 RON 3.56

-36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.16 RON 27.91

-30.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.52 RON 34.05

138.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.08 RON 4.88

57.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.69 RON 7.67

71.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.76 RON 3.46

23.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$21.62 RON 97.9

155.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.88 RON 3.97

39.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.85 RON 3.86

-37.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$8.10 RON 36.69

-70.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.80 RON 8.17

-20.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$30.0K RON 135.7K

-29.27%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.8K RON 121.6K

1.73%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$105 RON 477

-38.30%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$9.78 RON 44.28

36.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$8.44 RON 38.24

146.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$34.78 RON 158

16.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$21.76 RON 98.6

-81.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.60 RON 29.88

1.67%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$442 RON 2,000

78.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,364 RON 33.3K

105.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$54.7 RON 248

2.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$31.32 RON 142

-20.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$78.8 RON 357

17.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$82.4 RON 373

-8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$355 RON 1,610

36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$341 RON 1,545

-15.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$579 RON 2,621

57.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$443 RON 2,006

19.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$2,060 RON 9,328

-3.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,604 RON 7,263

-9.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.47

-25.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $355 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Targu Frumos. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $202 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 1% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,444 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $442 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 20% 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 $950, than in Targu Frumos at $962. 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 $950 versus $962 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.