🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,082 in Campina.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Chiang Mai versus $1,604 in Campina.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Chiang Mai versus $2,125 in Campina.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 21% less than in Campina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai36% lower, Campina19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04฿68.2
$9.83RON 44.69
-79.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿624
$42.28RON 192
-55.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86฿262
$6.85RON 31.15
14.74%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿67.7
$2.66RON 12.10
-23.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80฿26.64
$1.97RON 8.98
-59.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.68
$1.80RON 8.19
-80.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿71.5
$2.32RON 10.57
-7.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67฿122
$3.39RON 15.41
8.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73฿57.6
$1.52RON 6.92
13.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57฿52.4
$1.12RON 5.09
40.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20฿39.99
$1.52RON 6.91
-21.05%
Eggs
$1.97฿65.8
$3.29RON 14.98
-40.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23฿541
$8.53RON 38.77
90.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06฿102
$6.89RON 31.33
-55.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80฿360
$8.59RON 39.05
25.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77฿92.3
$1.21RON 5.49
128.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿38.94
$1.40RON 6.37
-16.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.28RON 5.83
33.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿53.2
$2.21RON 10.03
-28.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39฿46.51
$0.78RON 3.53
78.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16฿38.56
$0.92RON 4.19
26.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿22.05
$1.06RON 4.82
-37.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.31
$0.91RON 4.15
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65฿155
$5.78RON 26.29
-19.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.78฿593
$7.13RON 32.43
149.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿59.6
$0.90RON 4.08
98.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34฿111
$1.36RON 6.19
145.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿30.27
$0.96RON 4.34
-5.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.64฿622
$20.11RON 91.4
-7.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.04
$0.83RON 3.77
69.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.70
$0.79RON 3.61
69.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.11฿270
$5.66RON 25.71
43.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.16
$1.59RON 7.22
-22.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿715.1K
$24.8KRON 112.7K
-13.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K฿728.0K
$26.7KRON 121.2K
-18.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3฿2,379
$141RON 642
-49.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.01฿467
$8.68RON 39.47
61.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.93฿598
$11.14RON 50.7
60.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82฿1,362
$63.0RON 286
-35.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88฿230
$18.83RON 85.6
-63.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72฿191
$6.93RON 31.53
-17.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308฿10.3K
$424RON 1,929
-27.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.7K
$6,832RON 31.1K
114.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,860
$83.6RON 380
-33.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.04฿869
$42.97RON 195
-39.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,829
$82.9RON 377
2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.0฿2,368
$99.1RON 450
-28.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423฿14.1K
$393RON 1,787
7.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242฿8,088
$294RON 1,338
-17.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$797฿26.6K
$589RON 2,676
35.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507฿16.9K
$432RON 1,966
17.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,918฿64.0K
$1,920RON 8,728
-0.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464฿48.8K
$1,406RON 6,394
4.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Campina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595฿19.9K
$709RON 3,222
-16.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.5
-23.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Last update for Campina: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $423 in Chiang Mai and $393 in Campina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Campina pays 19% 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: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $42.00 in Campina. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $203, with Campina 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
Chiang Mai vs Campina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Campina?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Campina. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or in Campina?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Campina. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Campina?
Rent for a central apartment: $423 in Chiang Mai versus $393 in Campina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Campina?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $42.00 in Campina. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Campina?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,082 in Campina – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Campina?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,082 in Campina, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Campina. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Campina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $852 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Campina?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Campina 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Campina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared