😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Bragadiru versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,802 in Bragadiru versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,442 in Bragadiru versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Bragadiru is roughly 36% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bragadiru13% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.74RON 62.5
$2.04฿68.2
573.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7RON 308
$18.71฿624
262.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04RON 36.53
$7.86฿262
2.29%
Cappuccino
$3.43RON 15.57
$2.03฿67.7
68.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97RON 8.97
$0.80฿26.64
146.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.88
$0.35฿11.68
268.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34RON 10.64
$2.14฿71.5
9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17RON 14.42
$3.67฿122
-13.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76RON 7.99
$1.73฿57.6
1.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30RON 5.91
$1.57฿52.4
-17.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85RON 8.40
$1.20฿39.99
54.17%
Eggs
$3.36RON 15.28
$1.97฿65.8
70.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.53RON 43.33
$16.23฿541
-41.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.12RON 32.37
$3.06฿102
132.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.43RON 52.0
$10.80฿360
5.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.41RON 6.39
$2.77฿92.3
-49.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.06
$1.17฿38.94
51.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84RON 8.36
$1.71฿57.0
7.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.48RON 11.29
$1.59฿53.2
55.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05RON 4.76
$1.39฿46.51
-24.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15RON 5.22
$1.16฿38.56
-0.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94RON 4.28
$0.66฿22.05
42.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95RON 4.34
$0.52฿17.31
82.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30RON 28.65
$4.65฿155
35.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.56RON 29.83
$17.78฿593
-63.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18RON 5.37
$1.79฿59.6
-34.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99RON 9.04
$3.34฿111
-40.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68RON 3.07
$0.91฿30.27
-25.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.99RON 90.9
$18.64฿622
7.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.26
$1.41฿47.04
-48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.91
$1.34฿44.70
-52.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.99RON 31.80
$8.11฿270
-13.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.70
$1.23฿41.16
37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KRON 132.4K
$21.4K฿715.1K
35.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KRON 135.0K
$21.8K฿728.0K
36.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182RON 828
$71.3฿2,379
155.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.10RON 36.81
$14.01฿467
-42.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.04RON 41.09
$17.93฿598
-49.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.07RON 187
$40.82฿1,362
0.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.99RON 86.3
$6.88฿230
176.02%
Cinema Ticket
$7.96RON 36.20
$5.72฿191
39.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$543RON 2,470
$308฿10.3K
76.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,450RON 38.4K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-42.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9RON 368
$55.8฿1,860
44.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.77RON 208
$26.04฿869
75.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.2RON 414
$84.8฿2,829
7.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5RON 366
$71.0฿2,368
13.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$395RON 1,795
$423฿14.1K
-6.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293RON 1,331
$242฿8,088
20.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589RON 2,677
$797฿26.6K
-26.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439RON 1,996
$507฿16.9K
-13.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,960RON 8,911
$1,918฿64.0K
2.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,427RON 6,486
$1,464฿48.8K
-2.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bragadiru
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,104RON 5,019
$595฿19.9K
85.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.78
5
35.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bragadiru: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Bragadiru and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bragadiru pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Bragadiru vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $244, with Bragadiru cheaper for home cooking.
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
Bragadiru vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Bragadiru?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bragadiru or Chiang Mai?
Average pay runs 86% higher in Bragadiru, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Bragadiru and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Bragadiru versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 7% less than in Bragadiru. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $543 in Bragadiru versus $308 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Bragadiru or in Chiang Mai?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,161 in Bragadiru, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Bragadiru. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bragadiru or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bragadiru, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bragadiru or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Bragadiru and Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Bragadiru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.