🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,044 in Targu Frumos versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Targu Frumos versus $2,276 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,102 in Targu Frumos versus $3,291 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Targu Frumos costs roughly 17% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Targu Frumos22% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.79RON 40.31
$4.53฿153
94.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.04RON 188
$46.36฿1,565
-11.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.01RON 41.35
$8.65฿292
4.16%
Cappuccino
$2.31RON 10.58
$3.09฿104
-25.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28RON 5.85
$0.68฿22.89
88.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16RON 5.32
$0.37฿12.44
213.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.30
$2.42฿81.6
-7.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72RON 12.48
$3.81฿129
-28.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.25
$2.18฿73.5
-27.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21RON 5.54
$1.82฿61.3
-33.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58RON 7.24
$2.18฿73.5
-27.52%
Eggs
$3.04RON 13.95
$2.24฿75.4
35.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.89RON 40.76
$19.93฿673
-55.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13RON 32.72
$3.64฿123
95.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.46RON 57.1
$13.56฿458
-8.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98RON 4.49
$3.29฿111
-70.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36RON 6.25
$1.69฿56.9
-19.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.95
$2.33฿78.8
-34.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97RON 9.05
$2.03฿68.4
-2.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91RON 4.15
$1.60฿54.0
-43.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.25
$1.49฿50.5
-37.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75RON 3.46
$1.01฿34.17
-25.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RON 3.59
$0.48฿16.09
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06RON 27.78
$4.45฿150
36.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43RON 34.07
$18.63฿629
-60.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RON 4.77
$1.79฿60.3
-41.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67RON 7.68
$2.80฿94.4
-40.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70RON 3.23
$1.42฿47.90
-50.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.76RON 90.6
$11.33฿382
74.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94RON 4.33
$3.09฿104
-69.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RON 3.01
$1.04฿35.19
-36.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.40RON 33.93
$13.63฿460
-45.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.35
$1.31฿44.23
22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRON 129.8K
$27.3K฿920.7K
3.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRON 129.7K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-14.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173RON 793
$123฿4,157
40.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68RON 39.83
$13.81฿466
-37.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.71RON 44.56
$18.52฿625
-47.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.92RON 188
$60.4฿2,037
-32.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.25RON 88.3
$16.80฿567
14.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74RON 26.33
$8.89฿300
-35.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437RON 2,003
$687฿23.2K
-36.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,830RON 31.3K
$15.6K฿524.8K
-56.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.2RON 336
$57.6฿1,945
26.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.44RON 149
$34.66฿1,170
-6.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1RON 345
$115฿3,879
-34.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9RON 367
$84.9฿2,865
-5.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389RON 1,785
$618฿20.8K
-36.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286RON 1,310
$443฿15.0K
-35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578RON 2,652
$2,047฿69.1K
-71.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443RON 2,032
$1,506฿50.8K
-70.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,958RON 8,980
$3,568฿120.4K
-45.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,414RON 6,485
$2,511฿84.7K
-43.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Targu Frumos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$503฿17.0K
-
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $389 in Targu Frumos and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Targu Frumos vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $292 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,566 in Targu Frumos and $1,891 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: $389 in Targu Frumos versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $437 in Targu Frumos versus $687 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 in 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 living in Targu Frumos or in Phuket?
At $1,044 in Targu Frumos versus $1,261 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 21% 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