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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,054 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,880 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,864 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,706 in Cricova, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Cricova, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Cricova 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿71.8

$8.51 MDL 151

-74.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.40 ฿653

$28.14 MDL 500

-31.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 ฿184

$10.52 MDL 187

-48.00%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ฿56.7

$1.04 MDL 18.48

61.54%

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

$0.66 ฿22.22

$1.09 MDL 19.34

-39.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ฿11.58

$0.67 MDL 11.82

-49.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 ฿81.5

$2.03 MDL 36.14

19.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿126

$2.24 MDL 39.75

66.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ฿69.3

$2.34 MDL 41.59

-11.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.06

$0.50 MDL 8.84

192.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿45.34

$1.10 MDL 19.55

22.73%

Eggs

$2.27 ฿76.4

$1.25 MDL 22.27

81.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 ฿549

$6.62 MDL 118

146.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.70 ฿90.8

$4.66 MDL 82.7

-42.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.20 ฿310

$12.19 MDL 216

-24.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.6

$1.08 MDL 19.26

121.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿34.85

$0.81 MDL 14.43

28.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.05 MDL 18.59

52.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ฿48.64

$1.10 MDL 19.46

30.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.84

$0.73 MDL 12.93

78.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.50

$1.05 MDL 18.62

5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.69

$1.05 MDL 18.61

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.09

$1.08 MDL 19.27

-52.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ฿139

$3.40 MDL 60.4

21.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿599

$4.46 MDL 79.2

298.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿55.0

$2.55 MDL 45.26

-36.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ฿96.6

$4.30 MDL 76.5

-33.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.92

$0.56 MDL 9.92

53.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.2 ฿1,790

$22.18 MDL 394

139.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ฿41.05

$1.10 MDL 19.49

10.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ฿18.92

$0.24 MDL 4.22

133.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 ฿77.9

$6.94 MDL 123

-66.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.37 MDL 24.41

9.49%

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

$20.9K ฿702.3K

$29.8K MDL 528.9K

-29.97%

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

$26.7K ฿900.1K

$24.0K MDL 426.5K

11.32%

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

$61.3 ฿2,063

$239 MDL 4,239

-74.33%

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

$12.50 ฿421

$7.95 MDL 141

57.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.36 ฿686

$11.17 MDL 198

82.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 ฿1,277

$56.7 MDL 1,007

-33.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$11.26 MDL 200

-66.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 ฿222

$7.79 MDL 138

-15.28%

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

$774 ฿26.1K

$112 MDL 1,997

588.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ฿486.0K

$5,258 MDL 93.4K

174.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,845

$56.6 MDL 1,006

-3.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 ฿851

$28.69 MDL 510

-11.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 ฿3,049

$83.2 MDL 1,477

8.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,467

$113 MDL 2,014

-35.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 ฿15.4K

$918 MDL 16.3K

-50.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ฿9,891

$223 MDL 3,957

31.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 ฿30.9K

$1,407 MDL 25.0K

-34.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.6K

$1,117 MDL 19.8K

-50.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 ฿64.6K

$2,798 MDL 49.7K

-31.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.6K

$1,976 MDL 35.1K

-26.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.9K

$581 MDL 10.3K

1.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-20.43%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cricova: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Chiang Mai versus $918 in Cricova. 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 2% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $28.00 in Cricova. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Cricova – so Cricova 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 Cricova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cricova costs about 16% 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 $1,359 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,580 in Cricova. 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 $774 per month in Chiang Mai and $112 in Cricova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Cricova – 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 $906, than in Cricova at $1,054. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cricova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $906 versus $1,054 in Cricova. 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, Cricova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.