πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,043 in Targu Frumos versus $1,270 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,565 in Targu Frumos versus $2,304 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,088 in Targu Frumos versus $3,339 in Phuket.
πLiving in Targu Frumos costs roughly 18% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Targu Frumos22% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.72RONΒ 37.83
$4.66ΰΈΏ150
87.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.31RONΒ 175
$46.44ΰΈΏ1,496
-13.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.87RONΒ 38.49
$8.68ΰΈΏ280
2.19%
Cappuccino
$2.22RONΒ 9.62
$2.95ΰΈΏ95.0
-24.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26RONΒ 5.47
$0.70ΰΈΏ22.52
80.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10RONΒ 4.76
$0.39ΰΈΏ12.70
182.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13RONΒ 9.23
$2.53ΰΈΏ81.6
-15.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83RONΒ 12.28
$3.78ΰΈΏ122
-25.13%
π Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55RONΒ 6.71
$2.22ΰΈΏ71.5
-30.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RONΒ 5.28
$1.80ΰΈΏ57.8
-32.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65RONΒ 7.18
$2.19ΰΈΏ70.4
-24.66%
Eggs
$2.94RONΒ 12.75
$2.31ΰΈΏ74.5
27.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.40RONΒ 36.46
$19.34ΰΈΏ623
-56.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.11RONΒ 30.86
$3.77ΰΈΏ121
88.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70RONΒ 55.1
$13.22ΰΈΏ426
-3.93%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99RONΒ 4.29
$3.33ΰΈΏ107
-70.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36RONΒ 5.89
$1.65ΰΈΏ53.1
-17.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51RONΒ 6.57
$2.29ΰΈΏ73.7
-34.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99RONΒ 8.63
$1.99ΰΈΏ64.1
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RONΒ 4.04
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.24
-39.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RONΒ 4.08
$1.51ΰΈΏ48.77
-37.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75RONΒ 3.26
$1.03ΰΈΏ33.12
-27.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RONΒ 3.48
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.57
56.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23RONΒ 27.02
$4.41ΰΈΏ142
41.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24RONΒ 35.78
$19.41ΰΈΏ625
-57.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RONΒ 4.52
$1.80ΰΈΏ58.0
-42.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68RONΒ 7.30
$2.68ΰΈΏ86.4
-37.31%
π Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RONΒ 3.13
$1.43ΰΈΏ46.11
-49.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.82RONΒ 86.0
$11.70ΰΈΏ377
69.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93RONΒ 4.05
$3.04ΰΈΏ97.9
-69.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RONΒ 2.85
$1.04ΰΈΏ33.37
-36.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.45RONΒ 32.35
$13.68ΰΈΏ441
-45.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53RONΒ 6.64
$1.30ΰΈΏ41.85
17.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KRONΒ 122.4K
$27.9KΰΈΏ898.9K
1.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KRONΒ 121.8K
$33.0KΰΈΏ1.1M
-15.05%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170RONΒ 737
$123ΰΈΏ3,962
38.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.65RONΒ 37.53
$13.82ΰΈΏ445
-37.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.07RONΒ 43.72
$18.86ΰΈΏ608
-46.61%
π Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.95RONΒ 178
$61.2ΰΈΏ1,970
-33.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49RONΒ 84.6
$16.81ΰΈΏ541
15.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79RONΒ 25.12
$8.87ΰΈΏ286
-34.72%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436RONΒ 1,892
$696ΰΈΏ22.4K
-37.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,824RONΒ 29.6K
$16.1KΰΈΏ517.4K
-57.50%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0RONΒ 308
$59.3ΰΈΏ1,910
19.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.57RONΒ 141
$34.85ΰΈΏ1,123
-6.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.8RONΒ 325
$113ΰΈΏ3,646
-33.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9RONΒ 347
$85.1ΰΈΏ2,740
-6.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$394RONΒ 1,708
$615ΰΈΏ19.8K
-36.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292RONΒ 1,266
$448ΰΈΏ14.4K
-34.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598RONΒ 2,594
$2,085ΰΈΏ67.2K
-71.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432RONΒ 1,877
$1,496ΰΈΏ48.2K
-71.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,721RONΒ 7,469
$3,734ΰΈΏ120.3K
-53.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,382RONΒ 5,997
$2,662ΰΈΏ85.8K
-48.08%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534ΰΈΏ17.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.17
5.33
53.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Targu Frumos: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $394 in Targu Frumos and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $40 in Targu Frumos vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $291 per month, with Targu Frumos 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
Targu Frumos vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Targu Frumos?
Targu Frumos 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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,564 in Targu Frumos and $1,904 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Targu Frumos and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $394 in Targu Frumos versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Targu Frumos versus $696 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Targu Frumos and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Targu Frumos or Phuket?
At $1,043 in Targu Frumos versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Targu Frumos but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Frumos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Targu Frumos or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Targu Frumos 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, Targu Frumos or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Targu Frumos and Phuket 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 Targu Frumos gentler on the wallet β expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Targu Frumos vs other spots: cost of living compared