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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,013 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,622 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,231 in Targu Jiu, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$13.84 RON 63.4

-85.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$67.8 RON 310

-72.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$8.12 RON 37.19

-3.45%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$3.32 RON 15.18

-41.87%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$1.13 RON 5.15

-26.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$2.40 RON 11.00

-85.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

$3.35 RON 15.33

-33.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.96 RON 18.15

-4.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$1.77 RON 8.11

-6.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$1.42 RON 6.50

9.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$1.85 RON 8.48

-36.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$3.02 RON 13.83

-33.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$7.97 RON 36.47

102.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$3.16 RON 14.46

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$7.69 RON 35.20

40.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$1.02 RON 4.68

162.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$1.57 RON 7.21

-22.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$1.30 RON 5.97

25.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$1.40 RON 6.42

9.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.90 RON 4.14

48.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$0.98 RON 4.48

23.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$0.66 RON 3.02

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$0.60 RON 2.74

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$5.66 RON 25.92

-17.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

$3.12 RON 14.30

467.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

$0.96 RON 4.39

92.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.17 RON 5.34

174.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

$0.70 RON 3.21

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

$19.96 RON 91.4

-6.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$0.67 RON 3.07

110.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$0.61 RON 2.77

111.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.73 RON 30.83

15.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$1.69 RON 7.73

-23.67%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$29.2K RON 133.6K

-25.41%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$30.7K RON 140.6K

-29.36%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$178 RON 814

-60.63%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$6.63 RON 30.35

114.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$10.21 RON 46.75

70.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

$40.73 RON 187

2.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

$19.42 RON 88.9

-64.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$9.23 RON 42.25

-37.38%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$657 RON 3,009

-54.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$14.8K RON 67.6K

-1.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$54.2 RON 248

2.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$28.00 RON 128

-6.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$57.3 RON 262

48.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$93.9 RON 430

-24.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$376 RON 1,721

13.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

$255 RON 1,167

-7.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$521 RON 2,385

53.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

$432 RON 1,980

19.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

$2,646 RON 12.1K

-27.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

$554 RON 2,535

5.89%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Targu Jiu: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $376 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 6% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $68.0 in Targu Jiu. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $169 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 20% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,520 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $657 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 44% 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 $847 in Chiang Mai and $1,013 in Targu Jiu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,013 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.