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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Calafat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$7.85 RON 35.96

-73.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$37.73 RON 173

-48.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.61 RON 34.86

-25.49%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.15 RON 9.85

-15.81%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.59 RON 7.29

-51.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.93 RON 4.26

-62.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.08 RON 4.94

104.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.03 RON 9.28

86.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.20 RON 5.51

70.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.80 RON 3.66

88.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.41 RON 6.47

-0.71%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.43 RON 11.13

-7.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.14 RON 32.70

126.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.81 RON 31.21

-57.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.47 RON 29.63

45.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.03 RON 4.71

160.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.57 RON 7.19

-30.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.35 RON 6.18

20.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.58 RON 7.23

-7.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.65 RON 2.96

96.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.79 RON 3.64

34.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.78 RON 3.60

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.74 RON 3.41

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.65 RON 25.89

-25.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.79 RON 31.12

169.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.93 RON 4.28

75.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.56 RON 7.12

85.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.79 RON 3.60

11.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$22.67 RON 104

137.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.58 RON 2.64

101.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.53 RON 2.43

9.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$6.74 RON 30.86

-64.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.58 RON 7.23

-8.23%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$27.3K RON 125.0K

-22.98%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$27.2K RON 124.4K

-2.72%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$204 RON 935

-68.82%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$7.64 RON 35.01

68.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$6.66 RON 30.50

208.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$40.90 RON 187

-4.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$21.36 RON 97.8

-81.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.62 RON 34.93

-13.65%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$438 RON 2,007

78.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,568 RON 39.2K

71.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$59.0 RON 270

-6.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$44.26 RON 203

-44.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$82.2 RON 377

14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$88.7 RON 406

-16.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$409 RON 1,874

19.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$302 RON 1,385

-4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$636 RON 2,913

40.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$474 RON 2,172

9.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,939 RON 8,882

1.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,406 RON 6,440

2.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$849 RON 3,891

-29.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-7.17%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Calafat: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,577 in Calafat. 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 $932 in Chiang Mai and $1,051 in Calafat. 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.