😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,009 in Targoviste.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,467 in Targoviste.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,925 in Targoviste.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 24% more expensive than in Targoviste, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Targoviste24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$9.29RON 42.62
-51.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$27.11RON 124
70.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$6.75RON 30.99
30.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.34RON 10.75
30.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.54RON 7.08
-52.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.42RON 6.52
-71.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.24RON 10.26
8.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.08RON 14.12
22.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.49RON 6.84
51.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.99RON 4.56
82.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.71RON 7.83
31.58%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.75RON 12.60
-18.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$3.42RON 15.70
470.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.63RON 30.42
-44.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$9.82RON 45.08
32.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.27RON 5.83
154.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.64RON 7.53
-1.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.52RON 6.97
56.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.89RON 8.66
7.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.03RON 4.73
48.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.09RON 5.00
37.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.84RON 3.87
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.74RON 3.42
-29.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.87RON 26.97
-24.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$5.63RON 25.85
225.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.26RON 5.79
47.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.19RON 10.07
22.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.48RON 2.21
193.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$19.77RON 90.7
-40.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.79RON 3.63
293.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.76RON 3.49
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$7.34RON 33.71
92.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.60RON 7.35
-18.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$28.4KRON 130.4K
-2.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$27.1KRON 124.4K
22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$209RON 962
-41.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$8.22RON 37.72
65.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$9.14RON 41.94
104.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$23.00RON 106
163.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$19.03RON 87.4
-10.77%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$3.53RON 16.22
156.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$350RON 1,608
101.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$9,148RON 42.0K
72.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$70.1RON 322
-16.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$34.97RON 161
1.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$57.3RON 263
101.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$81.2RON 373
3.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$382RON 1,753
63.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$288RON 1,322
54.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$473RON 2,171
331.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$426RON 1,956
250.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$1,931RON 8,866
80.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,410RON 6,474
82.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$906RON 4,160
-44.84%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Targoviste: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $382 in Targoviste. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Targoviste pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Targoviste for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $187 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Targoviste?
On paper, salaries run 81% lower in Targoviste. 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: $626 in Phuket versus $382 in Targoviste. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $350 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 in 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 living in Phuket or in Targoviste?
At $1,009 in Targoviste versus $1,250 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 24% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.