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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $901 per month in Calarasi vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,391 per month in Calarasi vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,881 per month in Calarasi vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Calarasi is about 5% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calarasi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 34% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 RON 34.63

$2.08 ฿68.5

268.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.04 RON 122

$19.64 ฿646

37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 RON 36.62

$5.65 ฿186

43.54%

Cappuccino

$2.14 RON 9.69

$1.81 ฿59.3

18.23%

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

$1.45 RON 6.54

$0.71 ฿23.44

104.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 RON 8.23

$0.32 ฿10.38

468.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 RON 4.84

$2.24 ฿73.5

-52.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.82

$3.63 ฿119

-58.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.96 ฿64.4

-18.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 RON 4.26

$1.50 ฿49.38

-37.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 RON 7.30

$1.34 ฿43.92

20.90%

Eggs

$2.99 RON 13.53

$2.26 ฿74.4

32.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 RON 37.85

$16.26 ฿534

-48.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 RON 19.47

$2.95 ฿97.1

46.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.58 RON 38.76

$9.94 ฿327

-13.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.16

$2.57 ฿84.5

-55.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.69

$1.06 ฿34.72

39.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 RON 5.95

$1.61 ฿53.0

-18.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.13

$1.52 ฿49.96

3.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 RON 1.89

$1.27 ฿41.76

-66.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.91

$1.07 ฿35.05

-40.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 RON 2.04

$0.72 ฿23.67

-37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 RON 3.69

$0.51 ฿16.72

60.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 RON 30.39

$4.19 ฿138

60.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.32 RON 19.50

$17.87 ฿587

-75.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 RON 4.67

$1.69 ฿55.7

-39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.82

$2.84 ฿93.2

-46.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.04

$0.93 ฿30.42

-51.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.12 RON 59.3

$53.9 ฿1,770

-75.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$1.23 ฿40.58

-45.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 RON 2.89

$0.58 ฿18.96

10.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.78 RON 30.63

$2.42 ฿79.7

180.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 RON 7.93

$1.41 ฿46.42

24.82%

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

$29.7K RON 134.2K

$21.4K ฿704.9K

38.56%

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

$26.6K RON 120.4K

$27.3K ฿898.5K

-2.52%

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

$165 RON 746

$63.7 ฿2,093

159.18%

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

$6.77 RON 30.56

$12.85 ฿423

-47.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.93 RON 31.29

$20.22 ฿665

-65.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.67 RON 224

$38.74 ฿1,274

28.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$55.7 RON 251

$3.97 ฿130

1301.76%

Cinema Ticket

$8.95 RON 40.43

$6.74 ฿221

32.79%

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

$423 RON 1,909

$778 ฿25.6K

-45.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,032 RON 27.3K

$14.6K ฿480.2K

-58.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.0 RON 344

$54.3 ฿1,785

40.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 RON 100

$25.45 ฿836

-12.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 RON 434

$94.3 ฿3,101

1.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 RON 449

$73.4 ฿2,414

35.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 RON 1,493

$490 ฿16.1K

-32.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 RON 909

$289 ฿9,510

-30.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 RON 2,025

$894 ฿29.4K

-49.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 RON 1,519

$517 ฿17.0K

-34.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,240 RON 5,601

$1,955 ฿64.3K

-36.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 RON 4,378

$1,477 ฿48.5K

-34.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 RON 3,493

$602 ฿19.8K

28.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.85

5.57

40.93%

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

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Calarasi 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 28% higher in Calarasi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Calarasi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Calarasi vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Calarasi 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $901 in Calarasi, $947 in Chiang Mai – roughly 5% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,352 per month in Calarasi and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $423 per month in Calarasi and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai 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 $901 in Calarasi to $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.