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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,053 in Cricova, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,939 in Cricova, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,825 in Cricova, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Cricova, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Cricova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Cricova 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$8.56 MDL 145

-75.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$29.10 MDL 494

-32.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$10.89 MDL 185

-46.28%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.08 MDL 18.32

62.96%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$1.09 MDL 18.47

-32.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.73 MDL 12.35

-54.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$2.02 MDL 34.27

22.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$2.28 MDL 38.68

70.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$2.51 MDL 42.60

-24.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.52 MDL 8.89

221.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.09 MDL 18.49

23.85%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.30 MDL 22.06

64.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$6.95 MDL 118

128.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$4.71 MDL 80.0

-39.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$12.59 MDL 214

-16.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.14 MDL 19.31

108.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.83 MDL 14.15

28.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.12 MDL 19.09

35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.14 MDL 19.36

31.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.76 MDL 12.84

68.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.14 MDL 19.36

-3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.09 MDL 18.57

-36.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$1.08 MDL 18.42

-54.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$3.38 MDL 57.4

26.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$4.73 MDL 80.2

254.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.66 MDL 45.17

-37.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$4.49 MDL 76.2

-37.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.60 MDL 10.27

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$23.42 MDL 398

134.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.13 MDL 19.21

6.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.27 MDL 4.63

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$6.90 MDL 117

-65.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.37 MDL 23.20

4.38%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$30.3K MDL 514.0K

-30.37%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$25.2K MDL 427.1K

7.88%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$249 MDL 4,235

-74.04%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$8.20 MDL 139

60.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$11.79 MDL 200

64.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$58.8 MDL 998

-32.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$11.72 MDL 199

-67.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$7.96 MDL 135

-16.83%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$119 MDL 2,015

578.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$5,386 MDL 91.5K

180.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$57.4 MDL 974

-4.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$28.86 MDL 490

-11.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$86.7 MDL 1,472

6.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$115 MDL 1,949

-34.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$936 MDL 15.9K

-50.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$229 MDL 3,881

23.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$1,446 MDL 24.6K

-38.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$1,168 MDL 19.8K

-55.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,942 MDL 50.0K

-32.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$2,013 MDL 34.2K

-27.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$584 MDL 9,924

1.30%

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Cricova: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $936 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 1% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Cricova. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $197 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 14% 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,579 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $119 in Cricova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% 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 $920, than in Cricova at $1,053. 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 $920 versus $1,053 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.