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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,044 per month in Targu Frumos vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Targu Frumos vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,102 per month in Targu Frumos vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Targu Frumos costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Targu Frumos and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Targu Frumos 22% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.79 RON 40.31

$2.03 ฿68.5

333.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.04 RON 188

$18.71 ฿631

119.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 RON 41.35

$7.84 ฿265

14.92%

Cappuccino

$2.31 RON 10.58

$1.93 ฿65.0

19.69%

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

$1.28 RON 5.85

$0.83 ฿28.05

54.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 RON 5.32

$0.35 ฿11.82

231.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.30

$2.22 ฿74.9

0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 RON 12.48

$3.79 ฿128

-28.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.25

$1.65 ฿55.5

-4.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.54

$1.55 ฿52.4

-21.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.24

$1.18 ฿39.86

33.90%

Eggs

$3.04 RON 13.95

$2.01 ฿68.0

51.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.89 RON 40.76

$16.16 ฿545

-44.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 RON 32.72

$3.03 ฿102

135.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.46 RON 57.1

$10.84 ฿366

14.94%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.49

$2.68 ฿90.4

-63.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 RON 6.25

$1.22 ฿41.21

11.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.95

$1.63 ฿54.9

-6.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 RON 9.05

$1.53 ฿51.6

28.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$1.34 ฿45.18

-32.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.25

$1.21 ฿40.93

-23.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 RON 3.46

$0.70 ฿23.67

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.59

$0.53 ฿17.73

47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 RON 27.78

$4.69 ฿158

29.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 RON 34.07

$17.71 ฿598

-58.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 RON 4.77

$1.85 ฿62.3

-43.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 RON 7.68

$3.21 ฿108

-47.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 RON 3.23

$0.89 ฿30.07

-21.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.76 RON 90.6

$18.76 ฿633

5.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 RON 4.33

$1.41 ฿47.48

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 3.01

$1.29 ฿43.59

-48.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.40 RON 33.93

$7.79 ฿263

-5.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.35

$1.29 ฿43.67

24.03%

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

$28.3K RON 129.8K

$21.8K ฿734.7K

30.00%

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

$28.3K RON 129.7K

$21.7K ฿732.1K

30.32%

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

$173 RON 793

$70.0 ฿2,362

147.13%

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

$8.68 RON 39.83

$14.19 ฿479

-38.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.71 RON 44.56

$17.42 ฿588

-44.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 RON 188

$41.64 ฿1,405

-1.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.25 RON 88.3

$6.89 ฿233

179.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.74 RON 26.33

$5.78 ฿195

-0.69%

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

$437 RON 2,003

$300 ฿10.1K

45.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,830 RON 31.3K

$14.5K ฿490.1K

-52.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.2 RON 336

$55.4 ฿1,869

32.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.44 RON 149

$26.31 ฿888

23.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 RON 345

$84.8 ฿2,863

-11.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.9 RON 367

$70.5 ฿2,379

13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 RON 1,785

$425 ฿14.4K

-8.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 RON 1,310

$235 ฿7,933

21.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 RON 2,652

$802 ฿27.1K

-27.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 RON 2,032

$516 ฿17.4K

-14.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,958 RON 8,980

$1,926 ฿65.0K

1.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,414 RON 6,485

$1,451 ฿49.0K

-2.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

63.40%

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

Last update for Targu Frumos: July 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Targu Frumos versus $425 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Targu Frumos versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Targu Frumos vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Targu Frumos 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

Targu Frumos vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Frumos costs about 23% 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 $1,566 per month in Targu Frumos and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. 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 $437 per month in Targu Frumos and $300 in Chiang Mai. 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 Frumos – 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 $847, than in Targu Frumos at $1,044. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Frumos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,044 in Targu Frumos. 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 Frumos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.