🙂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 Mai37% lower, Constanta2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95฿62.8
$14.00RON 60.8
-86.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.43฿594
$68.4RON 297
-73.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50฿241
$8.00RON 34.71
-6.25%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿62.3
$3.29RON 14.29
-41.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.08
$1.89RON 8.19
-58.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.42
$1.30RON 5.63
-75.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15฿69.2
$2.34RON 10.15
-8.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿120
$3.27RON 14.19
13.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿55.2
$1.77RON 7.70
-3.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.3
$1.28RON 5.57
21.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.06
$1.86RON 8.07
-36.56%
Eggs
$1.98฿63.9
$3.32RON 14.40
-40.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.04฿517
$9.63RON 41.78
66.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿102
$6.74RON 29.26
-52.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.94฿353
$11.60RON 50.4
-5.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿84.7
$1.47RON 6.38
78.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17฿37.61
$1.79RON 7.78
-34.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.0
$1.78RON 7.72
-7.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54฿49.51
$2.50RON 10.83
-38.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿44.34
$1.02RON 4.41
35.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿37.54
$1.11RON 4.81
5.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.25
$0.98RON 4.25
-32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.55
$0.86RON 3.72
-40.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.52฿146
$6.46RON 28.04
-30.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿590
$7.07RON 30.68
159.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿57.9
$1.10RON 4.75
63.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿102
$1.86RON 8.06
70.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿28.97
$0.66RON 2.85
36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00฿612
$18.52RON 80.4
2.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.50
$0.94RON 4.08
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31฿42.15
$0.74RON 3.22
77.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.09฿261
$7.94RON 34.46
1.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.08
$1.67RON 7.25
-23.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿686.1K
$27.5KRON 119.5K
-22.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿699.3K
$27.5KRON 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
$185RON 803
-62.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97฿450
$8.06RON 34.98
73.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.95฿578
$9.29RON 40.30
93.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.31฿1,363
$58.4RON 253
-27.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66฿214
$36.20RON 157
-81.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿191
$7.85RON 34.05
-24.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,640
$542RON 2,352
-44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿478.4K
$8,256RON 35.8K
79.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,810
$70.3RON 305
-20.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94฿868
$64.4RON 280
-58.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9฿2,735
$75.0RON 325
13.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8฿2,314
$81.2RON 352
-11.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435฿14.0K
$582RON 2,526
-25.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240฿7,727
$458RON 1,987
-47.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$798฿25.7K
$1,129RON 4,899
-29.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498฿16.1K
$866RON 3,760
-42.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,995฿64.3K
$2,648RON 11.5K
-24.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,532฿49.4K
$2,052RON 8,905
-25.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Constanta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$628฿20.2K
$994RON 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared