Cost of Living Comparison Between Calafat and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Calafat and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,051 per month in Calafat vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Calafat vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,009 per month in Calafat vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Calafat costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calafat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Calafat 23% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.85 RON 35.96

$2.08 ฿69.3

277.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.73 RON 173

$19.61 ฿653

92.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 RON 34.86

$5.67 ฿189

34.22%

Cappuccino

$2.15 RON 9.85

$1.81 ฿60.1

18.78%

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

$1.59 RON 7.29

$0.77 ฿25.58

106.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 RON 4.26

$0.35 ฿11.49

165.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 RON 4.94

$2.21 ฿73.7

-51.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 RON 9.28

$3.79 ฿126

-46.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 RON 5.51

$2.05 ฿68.2

-41.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 RON 3.66

$1.51 ฿50.4

-47.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.47

$1.40 ฿46.57

0.71%

Eggs

$2.43 RON 11.13

$2.26 ฿75.2

7.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.14 RON 32.70

$16.19 ฿539

-55.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 RON 31.21

$2.90 ฿96.4

134.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 RON 29.63

$9.42 ฿314

-31.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.71

$2.68 ฿89.2

-61.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.19

$1.09 ฿36.28

44.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.18

$1.62 ฿53.8

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.23

$1.46 ฿48.61

8.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 RON 2.96

$1.28 ฿42.54

-49.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 RON 3.64

$1.06 ฿35.21

-25.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.60

$0.72 ฿23.88

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RON 3.41

$0.53 ฿17.51

39.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 RON 25.89

$4.23 ฿141

33.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.79 RON 31.12

$18.29 ฿609

-62.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 RON 4.28

$1.63 ฿54.3

-42.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 RON 7.12

$2.90 ฿96.6

-46.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 RON 3.60

$0.88 ฿29.24

-10.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.67 RON 104

$53.8 ฿1,790

-57.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 RON 2.64

$1.17 ฿39.04

-50.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 RON 2.43

$0.58 ฿19.25

-8.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.74 RON 30.86

$2.39 ฿79.4

182.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.23

$1.45 ฿48.28

8.97%

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

$27.3K RON 125.0K

$21.0K ฿699.5K

29.84%

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

$27.2K RON 124.4K

$26.4K ฿879.7K

2.79%

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

$204 RON 935

$63.7 ฿2,119

220.68%

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

$7.64 RON 35.01

$12.89 ฿429

-40.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.66 RON 30.50

$20.52 ฿683

-67.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.90 RON 187

$39.02 ฿1,299

4.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 RON 97.8

$3.92 ฿130

444.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.62 RON 34.93

$6.58 ฿219

15.81%

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

$438 RON 2,007

$784 ฿26.1K

-44.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,568 RON 39.2K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-41.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 RON 270

$55.1 ฿1,835

6.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.26 RON 203

$24.74 ฿824

78.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 RON 377

$94.1 ฿3,133

-12.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 RON 406

$74.0 ฿2,462

19.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 RON 1,874

$490 ฿16.3K

-16.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 RON 1,385

$288 ฿9,594

4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 RON 2,913

$891 ฿29.7K

-28.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 RON 2,172

$521 ฿17.3K

-9.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,939 RON 8,882

$1,974 ฿65.7K

-1.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,406 RON 6,440

$1,444 ฿48.1K

-2.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$849 RON 3,891

$602 ฿20.0K

41.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.72%

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

Last update for Calafat: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Calafat versus $490 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 41% higher in Calafat, 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 $38.00 in Calafat versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Calafat vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Calafat 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

Calafat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,051 in Calafat, $932 in Chiang Mai – roughly 13% apart. Calafat costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,577 per month in Calafat and $1,398 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,051 in Calafat and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 137% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Calafat at $1,051. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calafat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $932 in Chiang Mai to $1,051 in Calafat. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Calafat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.