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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,323 in Constanta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,009 in Constanta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,696 in Constanta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Constanta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Constanta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Constanta 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.0
$13.10 RON 59.2
-83.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿653
$67.5 RON 305
-70.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿190
$7.78 RON 35.12
-25.58%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.1
$3.31 RON 14.95
-44.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.49
$1.82 RON 8.22
-57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.30 RON 5.87
-76.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿76.8
$2.16 RON 9.75
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$3.24 RON 14.65
14.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿66.8
$1.72 RON 7.78
18.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.5
$1.31 RON 5.89
22.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.53
$1.74 RON 7.88
-18.39%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.6
$3.06 RON 13.80
-28.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿523
$8.96 RON 40.47
77.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿101
$5.95 RON 26.89
-48.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿324
$9.37 RON 42.33
5.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.4
$1.36 RON 6.15
93.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.02
$1.75 RON 7.89
-37.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.6
$1.64 RON 7.42
-0.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.3
$2.74 RON 12.38
-44.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿40.93
$1.02 RON 4.63
21.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.19
$1.04 RON 4.68
8.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.26
$1.05 RON 4.74
-29.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.40
$0.92 RON 4.16
-45.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$6.55 RON 29.56
-34.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿591
$6.82 RON 30.81
163.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿55.8
$1.07 RON 4.82
58.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.2
$1.80 RON 8.12
61.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.97
$0.63 RON 2.85
49.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,818
$17.52 RON 79.1
215.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.56
$0.85 RON 3.82
44.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.57
$0.86 RON 3.89
-38.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿78.9
$7.86 RON 35.48
-69.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.32
$1.85 RON 8.36
-22.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿696.8K
$29.2K RON 131.9K
-27.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿897.8K
$25.5K RON 115.0K
7.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,135
$176 RON 797
-63.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿439
$8.14 RON 36.74
64.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿685
$8.72 RON 39.40
138.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,329
$57.6 RON 260
-29.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿130
$14.22 RON 64.2
-72.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿221
$7.06 RON 31.88
-4.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿25.9K
$591 RON 2,668
33.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿497.2K
$8,122 RON 36.7K
86.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,849
$70.2 RON 317
-19.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿820
$48.40 RON 219
-48.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,048
$91.2 RON 412
1.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,470
$89.4 RON 404
-15.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿15.9K
$626 RON 2,828
-22.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,446
$491 RON 2,216
-41.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿29.9K
$1,105 RON 4,992
-17.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.4K
$776 RON 3,506
-31.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.1K
$2,583 RON 11.7K
-23.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.7K
$2,100 RON 9,485
-30.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿19.9K
$1,001 RON 4,520
-39.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.99
-20.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Constanta: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $626 in Constanta. 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 65% higher in Constanta, 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 $68.0 in Constanta. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Constanta – so Constanta 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 Constanta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Constanta?
Constanta costs about 39% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Constanta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,984 in Constanta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Constanta?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Constanta?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $591 in Constanta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Constanta?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Constanta – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Constanta?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Constanta at $1,323. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Constanta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Constanta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,323 in Constanta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Constanta?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Constanta?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Constanta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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