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: $1,250 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: Phuket 6% lower, Targoviste 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$9.29 RON 42.62
-51.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$27.11 RON 124
70.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$6.75 RON 30.99
30.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.34 RON 10.75
30.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$1.54 RON 7.08
-52.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$1.42 RON 6.52
-71.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$2.24 RON 10.26
8.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.08 RON 14.12
22.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.49 RON 6.84
51.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.99 RON 4.56
82.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.71 RON 7.83
31.58%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.75 RON 12.60
-18.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$3.42 RON 15.70
470.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$6.63 RON 30.42
-44.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$9.82 RON 45.08
32.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.27 RON 5.83
154.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.64 RON 7.53
-1.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.52 RON 6.97
56.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$1.89 RON 8.66
7.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.03 RON 4.73
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.09 RON 5.00
37.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.84 RON 3.87
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.74 RON 3.42
-29.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$5.87 RON 26.97
-24.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$5.63 RON 25.85
225.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.26 RON 5.79
47.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.19 RON 10.07
22.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.48 RON 2.21
193.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$19.77 RON 90.7
-40.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.79 RON 3.63
293.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.76 RON 3.49
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$7.34 RON 33.71
92.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.60 RON 7.35
-18.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$28.4K RON 130.4K
-2.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$27.1K RON 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
$209 RON 962
-41.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$8.22 RON 37.72
65.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$9.14 RON 41.94
104.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$23.00 RON 106
163.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$19.03 RON 87.4
-10.77%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$3.53 RON 16.22
156.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$350 RON 1,608
101.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$9,148 RON 42.0K
72.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$70.1 RON 322
-16.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$34.97 RON 161
1.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$57.3 RON 263
101.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$81.2 RON 373
3.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$382 RON 1,753
63.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$288 RON 1,322
54.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$473 RON 2,171
331.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$426 RON 1,956
250.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$1,931 RON 8,866
80.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$1,410 RON 6,474
82.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Targoviste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$906 RON 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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