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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,061 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,549 in Targu Mures, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,037 in Targu Mures, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Targu Mures, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Targu Mures are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Targu Mures 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$8.79 RON 39.91

-77.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$40.85 RON 185

-53.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$8.78 RON 39.86

-11.73%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$2.28 RON 10.35

-15.79%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$1.26 RON 5.72

-37.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$1.15 RON 5.24

-68.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$2.16 RON 9.81

2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$2.72 RON 12.34

34.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$1.60 RON 7.27

3.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$1.21 RON 5.51

34.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$1.59 RON 7.20

-25.16%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$2.98 RON 13.53

-32.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$8.87 RON 40.26

80.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$6.91 RON 31.36

-56.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$12.30 RON 55.9

-11.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$0.97 RON 4.41

184.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$1.32 RON 6.01

-10.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$1.49 RON 6.74

10.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$1.91 RON 8.68

-20.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$0.87 RON 3.97

58.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$0.89 RON 4.02

33.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$0.79 RON 3.58

-11.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.81 RON 3.66

-30.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$6.06 RON 27.52

-24.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$7.80 RON 35.41

112.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.04 RON 4.74

75.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.68 RON 7.62

90.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$0.59 RON 2.70

49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$14.77 RON 67.1

26.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.88 RON 4.01

54.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$0.71 RON 3.24

88.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$7.50 RON 34.06

4.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.52 RON 6.91

-19.08%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$27.5K RON 124.8K

-21.33%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$27.9K RON 126.8K

-19.28%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$169 RON 766

-58.18%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$8.60 RON 39.05

59.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$9.90 RON 44.96

76.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$46.97 RON 213

-12.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

$18.22 RON 82.7

-61.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$5.67 RON 25.73

1.76%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$1,378 RON 6,254

-77.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$6,946 RON 31.5K

110.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$72.2 RON 328

-22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$32.87 RON 149

-20.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$72.3 RON 328

18.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$81.8 RON 371

-11.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$440 RON 1,996

-2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$312 RON 1,415

-23.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$567 RON 2,576

44.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$399 RON 1,810

28.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$2,355 RON 10.7K

-15.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$1,505 RON 6,830

-1.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$1,066 RON 4,840

-41.96%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $440 in Targu Mures. 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 72% higher in Targu Mures, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Targu Mures. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $214 in Targu Mures – so Targu Mures 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 Mures: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Mures costs about 22% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,592 in Targu Mures. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,378 in Targu Mures. 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 Mures – 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 $869, than in Targu Mures at $1,061. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Mures it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,061 in Targu Mures. 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 Mures makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.