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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,039 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,627 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,214 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$13.93 RON 60.5

-86.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$68.5 RON 297

-73.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$8.09 RON 35.10

-7.29%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$3.44 RON 14.93

-43.90%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$1.17 RON 5.07

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$2.29 RON 9.94

-86.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$3.52 RON 15.29

-38.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$3.85 RON 16.71

-3.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.75 RON 7.58

-2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.43 RON 6.20

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.92 RON 8.32

-38.54%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$3.08 RON 13.38

-35.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$7.97 RON 34.59

101.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$3.30 RON 14.31

-3.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$8.05 RON 34.95

35.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.02 RON 4.43

157.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.64 RON 7.14

-28.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.25 RON 5.41

32.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$1.37 RON 5.93

12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.94 RON 4.08

46.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.96 RON 4.17

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.70 RON 3.06

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.56 RON 2.45

-8.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$5.66 RON 24.55

-20.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$3.24 RON 14.06

465.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.94 RON 4.06

91.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.12 RON 4.86

183.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.72 RON 3.11

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$19.69 RON 85.4

-3.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$0.70 RON 3.05

101.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$0.61 RON 2.64

114.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$7.01 RON 30.42

15.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.67 RON 7.25

-23.35%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$28.8K RON 125.2K

-26.17%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$29.9K RON 129.8K

-27.42%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$178 RON 771

-61.04%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$6.41 RON 27.82

117.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$10.25 RON 44.49

75.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$41.67 RON 181

1.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$19.38 RON 84.1

-65.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$9.38 RON 40.71

-36.89%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$670 RON 2,906

-55.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$14.5K RON 63.0K

2.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$55.8 RON 242

0.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$27.14 RON 118

-0.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$56.8 RON 247

49.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$93.7 RON 407

-23.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$375 RON 1,627

16.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$250 RON 1,084

-3.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$527 RON 2,287

51.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$440 RON 1,911

13.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$2,788 RON 12.1K

-28.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$565 RON 2,454

11.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

-29.58%

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 Jiu: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $375 in Targu Jiu. 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 11% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $68 in Targu Jiu. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $171 in Targu Jiu – so Targu Jiu 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 Jiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Jiu 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 $1,559 in Targu Jiu. 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 $670 in Targu Jiu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 43% cheaper in Targu Jiu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $1,039 in Targu Jiu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,039 in Targu Jiu. 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 Jiu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.