Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Frumos and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,059 in Targu Frumos versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,553 in Targu Frumos versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,046 in Targu Frumos versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Targu Frumos costs roughly 16% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Targu Frumos 21% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.88 RON 40.41
$4.70 ฿154
88.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.62 RON 185
$45.37 ฿1,489
-10.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 RON 41.61
$8.43 ฿277
8.42%
Cappuccino
$2.20 RON 10.02
$2.93 ฿96.1
-24.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 RON 6.02
$0.69 ฿22.50
91.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 RON 5.23
$0.37 ฿12.04
210.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 RON 9.85
$2.41 ฿79.0
-10.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 RON 12.35
$3.72 ฿122
-27.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 RON 7.32
$2.23 ฿73.3
-27.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 RON 5.26
$1.83 ฿60.1
-36.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 RON 7.45
$2.17 ฿71.1
-24.42%
Eggs
$2.99 RON 13.59
$2.21 ฿72.6
35.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.76 RON 39.88
$19.74 ฿648
-55.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.20 RON 32.78
$3.63 ฿119
98.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.54 RON 57.1
$13.53 ฿444
-7.32%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 RON 4.45
$3.28 ฿108
-70.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 RON 6.01
$1.61 ฿52.9
-18.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.90
$2.41 ฿79.0
-36.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 RON 8.69
$2.08 ฿68.4
-8.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.35
$1.53 ฿50.2
-37.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 RON 4.17
$1.48 ฿48.58
-37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 RON 3.56
$0.99 ฿32.44
-21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RON 3.36
$0.51 ฿16.74
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 RON 28.51
$4.41 ฿145
41.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 RON 35.10
$19.38 ฿636
-60.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 RON 4.69
$1.78 ฿58.4
-42.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 RON 7.76
$2.71 ฿89.0
-37.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 RON 3.23
$1.37 ฿44.99
-48.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.86 RON 90.4
$11.39 ฿374
74.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 RON 4.13
$3.02 ฿99.1
-69.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 RON 2.79
$0.99 ฿32.63
-38.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.34 RON 33.42
$14.10 ฿463
-47.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 7.24
$1.36 ฿44.71
16.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K RON 128.8K
$28.2K ฿925.3K
0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K RON 125.0K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-16.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 RON 772
$122 ฿3,993
39.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.69 RON 39.55
$13.57 ฿445
-35.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.08 RON 45.88
$18.31 ฿601
-44.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.05 RON 191
$60.2 ฿1,976
-30.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.03 RON 86.6
$17.14 ฿562
11.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 RON 26.69
$8.69 ฿285
-32.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$422 RON 1,919
$693 ฿22.8K
-39.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,030 RON 32.0K
$15.7K ฿514.7K
-55.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 RON 331
$59.5 ฿1,953
22.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.09 RON 146
$34.77 ฿1,141
-7.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 RON 340
$115 ฿3,760
-34.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 RON 363
$83.3 ฿2,733
-4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 RON 1,738
$613 ฿20.1K
-37.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 RON 1,304
$437 ฿14.3K
-34.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 RON 2,624
$2,094 ฿68.7K
-72.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$434 RON 1,977
$1,509 ฿49.5K
-71.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,695 RON 7,718
$3,749 ฿123.0K
-54.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,322 RON 6,020
$2,616 ฿85.8K
-49.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$508 ฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.17
5.33
53.28%

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

Last update for Targu Frumos: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Targu Frumos and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $41.00 in Targu Frumos vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $293 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,589 in Targu Frumos and $1,898 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: $382 in Targu Frumos versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $422 in Targu Frumos versus $693 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 36% 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 $1,059 in Targu Frumos versus $1,265 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 – expenses run 19% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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