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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $973 in Focsani, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,488 in Focsani, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,003 in Focsani, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Focsani are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Focsani 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$8.30 RON 37.54
-76.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$46.60 RON 211
-59.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$5.60 RON 25.35
38.39%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$1.82 RON 8.23
5.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$1.63 RON 7.36
-51.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$1.37 RON 6.19
-73.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.88 RON 8.52
17.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.73 RON 12.34
34.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$1.48 RON 6.72
11.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$0.82 RON 3.72
98.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.75 RON 7.92
-32.00%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$2.85 RON 12.91
-29.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$8.49 RON 38.43
88.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$7.07 RON 31.99
-57.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$11.76 RON 53.2
-7.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$0.98 RON 4.41
181.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.41 RON 6.38
-16.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.40 RON 6.35
17.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$2.24 RON 10.12
-32.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$0.72 RON 3.25
91.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$0.96 RON 4.35
23.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$0.60 RON 2.73
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.77 RON 3.48
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$5.71 RON 25.84
-19.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$4.46 RON 20.15
271.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.11 RON 5.01
64.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$1.16 RON 5.25
175.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.60 RON 2.71
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$14.19 RON 64.2
31.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$0.76 RON 3.44
78.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.75 RON 3.40
78.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$6.87 RON 31.08
14.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.56 RON 7.06
-21.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$28.4K RON 128.3K
-23.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$27.9K RON 126.4K
-19.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$167 RON 755
-57.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$8.00 RON 36.17
71.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$8.78 RON 39.73
98.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$17.02 RON 77.0
142.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$19.33 RON 87.4
-63.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$11.07 RON 50.1
-47.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$422 RON 1,907
-27.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$6,472 RON 29.3K
125.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$67.0 RON 303
-16.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$43.40 RON 196
-39.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$57.0 RON 258
50.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$69.1 RON 313
4.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$349 RON 1,576
23.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$273 RON 1,233
-12.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$577 RON 2,611
41.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$440 RON 1,992
15.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$1,115 RON 5,044
77.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$905 RON 4,093
64.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
$707 RON 3,198
-12.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.5
-23.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Focsani: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $349 in Focsani. 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 14% higher in Focsani, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Focsani. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 in Focsani – so Focsani 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 Focsani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Focsani?
Focsani costs about 12% 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 Focsani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,460 in Focsani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Focsani?
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 Focsani?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $422 in Focsani. 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 Focsani?
Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Focsani – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Focsani?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $973 in Focsani, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Focsani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $973 in Focsani. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Focsani?
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 Focsani?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Focsani makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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