🙂A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,300 in Constanta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,124 in Constanta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,947 in Constanta, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 33% cheaper than Constanta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Constanta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Constanta3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿65.0
$13.58RON 61.7
-85.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿619
$69.9RON 317
-73.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿255
$7.96RON 36.13
-2.64%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿63.2
$3.35RON 15.19
-42.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿26.07
$1.90RON 8.64
-58.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.74
$1.30RON 5.92
-72.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.9
$2.26RON 10.25
-2.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿120
$3.26RON 14.79
12.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿54.4
$1.71RON 7.76
-3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.7
$1.25RON 5.68
30.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿39.28
$1.90RON 8.61
-37.37%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.8
$3.23RON 14.65
-38.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿526
$9.92RON 45.05
61.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿99.6
$6.76RON 30.71
-55.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿357
$11.78RON 53.5
-7.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.9
$1.45RON 6.58
90.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.83
$1.73RON 7.87
-31.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿54.0
$1.76RON 8.01
-6.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.0
$2.52RON 11.45
-39.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.59
$1.01RON 4.57
36.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿39.25
$1.11RON 5.04
7.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿23.11
$1.02RON 4.64
-31.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.90RON 4.10
-37.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿151
$6.27RON 28.47
-26.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿545
$6.76RON 30.69
144.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.2
$1.10RON 5.00
66.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿105
$1.87RON 8.51
71.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.87
$0.67RON 3.02
31.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿616
$18.09RON 82.1
3.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.95RON 4.30
43.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿44.12
$0.70RON 3.16
91.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿258
$7.83RON 35.54
0.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿40.35
$1.68RON 7.63
-26.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿711.8K
$28.0KRON 127.3K
-22.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿742.2K
$27.9KRON 126.6K
-19.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,322
$187RON 850
-62.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿450
$7.96RON 36.13
71.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿574
$9.03RON 40.99
93.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,361
$58.2RON 264
-28.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿229
$37.53RON 170
-81.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿190
$8.16RON 37.06
-29.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.1K
$539RON 2,448
-43.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿481.0K
$8,309RON 37.7K
75.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,837
$69.0RON 313
-19.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿863
$65.7RON 298
-60.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,823
$75.8RON 344
13.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,378
$79.3RON 360
-8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.1K
$589RON 2,675
-27.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,857
$458RON 2,080
-47.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.9K
$1,133RON 5,145
-27.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.8K
$864RON 3,923
-40.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿65.3K
$2,572RON 11.7K
-22.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.9K
$2,018RON 9,159
-26.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.4K
$985RON 4,469
-37.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
6.78
-26.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Constanta: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $589 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 59% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $70.0 in Constanta. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $229 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 50% 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 vs Constanta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,950 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 Constanta?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $539 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 Constanta?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 Constanta?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Constanta at $1,300. 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 $869 versus $1,300 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 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared