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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,061 per month in Targu Mures vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,549 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Targu Mures vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Targu Mures costs about 22% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Targu Mures and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Targu Mures 21% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.79 RON 39.91

$1.98 ฿65.0

343.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.85 RON 185

$18.80 ฿619

117.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 RON 39.86

$7.75 ฿255

13.29%

Cappuccino

$2.28 RON 10.35

$1.92 ฿63.2

18.75%

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

$1.26 RON 5.72

$0.79 ฿26.07

59.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.24

$0.36 ฿11.74

219.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 RON 9.81

$2.21 ฿72.9

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 RON 12.34

$3.66 ฿120

-25.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.27

$1.65 ฿54.4

-3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.51

$1.63 ฿53.7

-25.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.19 ฿39.28

33.61%

Eggs

$2.98 RON 13.53

$2.00 ฿65.8

49.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 RON 40.26

$15.98 ฿526

-44.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 RON 31.36

$3.03 ฿99.6

128.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 RON 55.9

$10.86 ฿357

13.26%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.41

$2.76 ฿90.9

-64.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.01

$1.18 ฿38.83

11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.74

$1.64 ฿54.0

-9.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.68

$1.52 ฿50.0

25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$1.38 ฿45.59

-36.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.02

$1.19 ฿39.25

-25.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RON 3.58

$0.70 ฿23.11

12.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 RON 3.66

$0.56 ฿18.32

44.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 RON 27.52

$4.58 ฿151

32.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 RON 35.41

$16.56 ฿545

-52.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 RON 4.74

$1.83 ฿60.2

-43.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 RON 7.62

$3.20 ฿105

-47.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 RON 2.70

$0.88 ฿28.87

-32.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 RON 67.1

$18.72 ฿616

-21.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 4.01

$1.36 ฿44.64

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 RON 3.24

$1.34 ฿44.12

-47.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 RON 34.06

$7.84 ฿258

-4.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.91

$1.23 ฿40.35

23.58%

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

$27.5K RON 124.8K

$21.6K ฿711.8K

27.11%

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

$27.9K RON 126.8K

$22.5K ฿742.2K

23.89%

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

$169 RON 766

$70.5 ฿2,322

139.13%

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

$8.60 RON 39.05

$13.68 ฿450

-37.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.90 RON 44.96

$17.45 ฿574

-43.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.97 RON 213

$41.33 ฿1,361

13.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.22 RON 82.7

$6.96 ฿229

161.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.67 RON 25.73

$5.77 ฿190

-1.73%

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

$1,378 RON 6,254

$307 ฿10.1K

348.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,946 RON 31.5K

$14.6K ฿481.0K

-52.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.2 RON 328

$55.8 ฿1,837

29.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.87 RON 149

$26.21 ฿863

25.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 RON 328

$85.8 ฿2,823

-15.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 RON 371

$72.2 ฿2,378

13.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,996

$430 ฿14.1K

2.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,415

$239 ฿7,857

30.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RON 2,576

$817 ฿26.9K

-30.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 RON 1,810

$511 ฿16.8K

-21.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,355 RON 10.7K

$1,983 ฿65.3K

18.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 RON 6,830

$1,484 ฿48.9K

1.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,066 RON 4,840

$619 ฿20.4K

72.30%

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 Mures: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Targu Mures versus $430 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.

Salaries run about 72% higher in Targu Mures, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Targu Mures versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $214 in Targu Mures vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Targu Mures 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 Mures vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Mures costs about 22% 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 $1,592 per month in Targu Mures and $1,303 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 $1,378 per month in Targu Mures and $307 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 Mures – 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 $869, than in Targu Mures at $1,061. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Mures it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,061 in Targu Mures. 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 Mures makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.