Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Targoviste Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Targoviste

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,033 in Targoviste.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,459 in Targoviste.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,884 in Targoviste.

Living in Phuket is roughly 22% more expensive than Targoviste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Targoviste 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$9.28 RON 41.96
-49.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$27.81 RON 126
63.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$6.85 RON 30.96
23.07%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.27 RON 10.24
29.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.51 RON 6.83
-54.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.44 RON 6.50
-74.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.34 RON 10.56
2.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.02 RON 13.65
23.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.56 RON 7.04
42.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.99 RON 4.49
84.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.65 RON 7.44
31.52%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.82 RON 12.76
-21.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$3.54 RON 16.01
457.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.61 RON 29.88
-45.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.97 RON 45.05
35.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.23 RON 5.58
166.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.73 RON 7.82
-6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.60 RON 7.23
50.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.89 RON 8.54
10.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.04 RON 4.72
47.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.13 RON 5.11
30.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.83 RON 3.76
19.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.74 RON 3.33
-31.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$6.12 RON 27.66
-27.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$5.64 RON 25.50
243.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.25 RON 5.64
42.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.19 RON 9.90
23.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.48 RON 2.15
185.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$19.47 RON 88.0
-41.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.80 RON 3.62
277.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.74 RON 3.37
33.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$7.45 RON 33.68
89.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.55 RON 6.99
-12.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$28.5K RON 128.7K
-0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.9K RON 125.9K
18.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$210 RON 951
-42.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$7.86 RON 35.54
72.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$9.00 RON 40.69
103.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$23.06 RON 104
161.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$18.95 RON 85.7
-9.55%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$3.44 RON 15.54
152.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$352 RON 1,591
97.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,857 RON 40.0K
77.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$69.2 RON 313
-13.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$34.09 RON 154
1.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$56.6 RON 256
102.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$80.3 RON 363
3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$368 RON 1,663
66.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$287 RON 1,295
52.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$486 RON 2,195
331.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$426 RON 1,927
254.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,680 RON 7,593
123.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,349 RON 6,097
93.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$923 RON 4,173
-44.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.28
-15.13%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $368 in Targoviste. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Targoviste pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Targoviste for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $189 per month, with Targoviste cheaper across the board.

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
Phuket vs Targoviste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Targoviste cheaper than Phuket?
Targoviste is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Targoviste?
On paper, Targoviste earns 82% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Targoviste?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $368 in Targoviste. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $352 in Targoviste. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Targoviste?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Targoviste?
At $1,033 in Targoviste versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Targoviste but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Targoviste the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Targoviste more family-friendly?
For families, Targoviste is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Targoviste?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Targoviste are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Targoviste gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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