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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,237 in Craiova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,776 in Craiova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,314 in Craiova, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Craiova, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Craiova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Craiova 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$7.84 RON 35.53

-73.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿654

$37.81 RON 171

-48.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$7.81 RON 35.40

-27.66%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.79 RON 12.66

-35.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.75

$2.37 RON 10.74

-70.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$1.97 RON 8.93

-83.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.5

$2.48 RON 11.25

-9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.66 RON 16.59

-0.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.2

$1.36 RON 6.16

44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.84 RON 3.83

78.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$1.45 RON 6.58

-7.59%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$3.61 RON 16.36

-37.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿541

$7.52 RON 34.10

116.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.4

$6.88 RON 31.18

-57.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿331

$12.05 RON 54.6

-17.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.7

$1.01 RON 4.59

154.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.18

$1.52 RON 6.88

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.7

$1.48 RON 6.70

8.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.6

$1.82 RON 8.25

-16.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.30

$0.86 RON 3.92

47.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.51

$0.88 RON 3.97

21.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.98

$0.78 RON 3.51

-7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.94

$0.80 RON 3.61

-36.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿140

$6.89 RON 31.23

-39.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿595

$6.48 RON 29.37

175.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.4

$1.26 RON 5.72

34.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.5

$1.55 RON 7.04

83.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.82

$0.84 RON 3.82

10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,794

$26.04 RON 118

106.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿41.11

$0.67 RON 3.05

83.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.20

$0.68 RON 3.08

-14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.7

$6.51 RON 29.51

-62.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$1.87 RON 8.47

-24.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿714.1K

$29.4K RON 133.1K

-26.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿910.2K

$27.5K RON 124.6K

-0.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,120

$207 RON 938

-69.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿428

$10.58 RON 47.96

21.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿673

$11.54 RON 52.3

75.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,290

$41.56 RON 188

-6.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$23.06 RON 105

-82.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿224

$7.76 RON 35.19

-13.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.9K

$446 RON 2,023

74.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿486.5K

$8,665 RON 39.3K

68.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,808

$58.5 RON 265

-7.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿847

$50.6 RON 229

-49.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,141

$83.7 RON 380

12.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,446

$110 RON 498

-33.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$538 RON 2,438

-8.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,634

$413 RON 1,874

-30.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.8K

$915 RON 4,147

-2.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.2K

$631 RON 2,861

-18.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿65.1K

$2,730 RON 12.4K

-28.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.2K

$2,044 RON 9,268

-27.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$966 RON 4,381

-37.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.84

-18.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Craiova: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $538 in Craiova. 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 60% higher in Craiova, 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 $38.00 in Craiova. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Craiova – so Craiova 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 Craiova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Craiova costs about 31% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,856 in Craiova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $446 in Craiova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Craiova – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Craiova at $1,237. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Craiova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,237 in Craiova. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Craiova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.