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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,307 in Constanta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,122 in Constanta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,937 in Constanta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Constanta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Constanta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Constanta 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 ฿62.8
$14.00 RON 60.8
-86.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43 ฿594
$68.4 RON 297
-73.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.50 ฿241
$8.00 RON 34.71
-6.25%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ฿62.3
$3.29 RON 14.29
-41.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.08
$1.89 RON 8.19
-58.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.42
$1.30 RON 5.63
-75.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 ฿69.2
$2.34 RON 10.15
-8.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿120
$3.27 RON 14.19
13.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿55.2
$1.77 RON 7.70
-3.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿50.3
$1.28 RON 5.57
21.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.06
$1.86 RON 8.07
-36.56%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.9
$3.32 RON 14.40
-40.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.04 ฿517
$9.63 RON 41.78
66.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿102
$6.74 RON 29.26
-52.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿353
$11.60 RON 50.4
-5.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿84.7
$1.47 RON 6.38
78.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.61
$1.79 RON 7.78
-34.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.0
$1.78 RON 7.72
-7.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ฿49.51
$2.50 RON 10.83
-38.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿44.34
$1.02 RON 4.41
35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.54
$1.11 RON 4.81
5.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.25
$0.98 RON 4.25
-32.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.55
$0.86 RON 3.72
-40.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52 ฿146
$6.46 RON 28.04
-30.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿590
$7.07 RON 30.68
159.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿57.9
$1.10 RON 4.75
63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.86 RON 8.06
70.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿28.97
$0.66 RON 2.85
36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.00 ฿612
$18.52 RON 80.4
2.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.50
$0.94 RON 4.08
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 ฿42.15
$0.74 RON 3.22
77.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.09 ฿261
$7.94 RON 34.46
1.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.08
$1.67 RON 7.25
-23.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿686.1K
$27.5K RON 119.5K
-22.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ฿699.3K
$27.5K RON 119.4K
-21.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 ฿2,230
$185 RON 803
-62.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 ฿450
$8.06 RON 34.98
73.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95 ฿578
$9.29 RON 40.30
93.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 ฿1,363
$58.4 RON 253
-27.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 ฿214
$36.20 RON 157
-81.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿191
$7.85 RON 34.05
-24.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,640
$542 RON 2,352
-44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿478.4K
$8,256 RON 35.8K
79.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,810
$70.3 RON 305
-20.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 ฿868
$64.4 RON 280
-58.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 ฿2,735
$75.0 RON 325
13.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,314
$81.2 RON 352
-11.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 ฿14.0K
$582 RON 2,526
-25.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ฿7,727
$458 RON 1,987
-47.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 ฿25.7K
$1,129 RON 4,899
-29.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$866 RON 3,760
-42.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 ฿64.3K
$2,648 RON 11.5K
-24.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 ฿49.4K
$2,052 RON 8,905
-25.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$628 ฿20.2K
$994 RON 4,313
-36.78%
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Constanta: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $582 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 58% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $68 in Constanta. Groceries tell a different story – $244 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 55% 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 $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,960 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $542 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 6% 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 $845, than in Constanta at $1,307. 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 $845 versus $1,307 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.

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