😐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: Phuket6% lower, Targoviste23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$9.28RON 41.96
-49.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$27.81RON 126
63.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$6.85RON 30.96
23.07%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.27RON 10.24
29.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$1.51RON 6.83
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.44RON 6.50
-74.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.34RON 10.56
2.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.02RON 13.65
23.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.56RON 7.04
42.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.99RON 4.49
84.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.65RON 7.44
31.52%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.82RON 12.76
-21.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$3.54RON 16.01
457.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$6.61RON 29.88
-45.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$9.97RON 45.05
35.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.23RON 5.58
166.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.73RON 7.82
-6.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.60RON 7.23
50.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.89RON 8.54
10.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.04RON 4.72
47.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.13RON 5.11
30.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$0.83RON 3.76
19.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.74RON 3.33
-31.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$6.12RON 27.66
-27.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.64RON 25.50
243.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.25RON 5.64
42.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.19RON 9.90
23.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.48RON 2.15
185.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$19.47RON 88.0
-41.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$0.80RON 3.62
277.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.74RON 3.37
33.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$7.45RON 33.68
89.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.55RON 6.99
-12.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$28.5KRON 128.7K
-0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$27.9KRON 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
$210RON 951
-42.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$7.86RON 35.54
72.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$9.00RON 40.69
103.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$23.06RON 104
161.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$18.95RON 85.7
-9.55%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$3.44RON 15.54
152.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$352RON 1,591
97.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$8,857RON 40.0K
77.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$69.2RON 313
-13.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$34.09RON 154
1.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$56.6RON 256
102.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$80.3RON 363
3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$368RON 1,663
66.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$287RON 1,295
52.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$486RON 2,195
331.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$426RON 1,927
254.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,680RON 7,593
123.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,349RON 6,097
93.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$923RON 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.