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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,036 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,614 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,192 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Targu Jiu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targu Jiu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Targu Jiu 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$14.26 RON 64.6

-85.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$61.6 RON 279

-67.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.54 RON 34.15

-23.21%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.58 RON 16.23

-48.88%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.13 RON 5.12

-30.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$2.36 RON 10.70

-86.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.87 RON 17.53

-39.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.55 RON 20.61

-18.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.80 RON 8.13

12.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.42 RON 6.41

12.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.72 RON 7.80

-17.44%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.88 RON 13.02

-24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$7.96 RON 36.06

99.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.06 RON 13.88

0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.58 RON 34.33

30.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$0.99 RON 4.47

165.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.59 RON 7.20

-30.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.21 RON 5.48

34.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.30 RON 5.90

17.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.82 RON 3.71

51.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.76 RON 3.43

48.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.68 RON 3.09

8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.54 RON 2.43

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.44 RON 24.65

-21.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$3.09 RON 13.98

481.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$0.86 RON 3.89

97.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.12 RON 5.09

158.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.82 RON 3.70

14.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.14 RON 91.2

174.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.67 RON 3.04

83.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.69 RON 3.13

-23.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.70 RON 30.34

-64.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.58 RON 7.14

-8.86%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$30.1K RON 136.5K

-29.67%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$28.4K RON 128.4K

-3.70%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$201 RON 909

-67.65%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$6.28 RON 28.43

112.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$9.92 RON 44.92

109.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$39.76 RON 180

1.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$19.70 RON 89.2

-79.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.83 RON 39.98

-24.01%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$648 RON 2,934

21.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,186 RON 32.5K

110.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$53.4 RON 242

5.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$26.35 RON 119

-5.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$54.3 RON 246

70.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$87.3 RON 395

-13.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$360 RON 1,630

34.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$250 RON 1,131

15.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$500 RON 2,267

81.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$417 RON 1,888

27.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,916 RON 8,679

3.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,268 RON 5,741

14.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$555 RON 2,515

9.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.82

-18.33%

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 Jiu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $360 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 9% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Targu Jiu. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $164 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 9% 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 $1,555 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $648 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 48% cheaper in Targu Jiu – 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 Jiu at $1,036. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Jiu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,036 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.