🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $942 in Focsani, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,457 in Focsani, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,972 in Focsani, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Focsani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Focsani are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Focsani30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$7.98RON 34.78
-75.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$45.77RON 200
-58.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$5.92RON 25.79
33.78%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$1.82RON 7.92
4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$1.65RON 7.20
-49.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$1.37RON 5.96
-74.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.82RON 7.94
21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$2.81RON 12.24
35.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.54RON 6.73
6.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.77RON 3.37
110.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.81RON 7.91
-34.81%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$2.83RON 12.34
-28.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$8.39RON 36.60
89.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$6.88RON 29.98
-56.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$12.14RON 52.9
-11.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$0.98RON 4.27
166.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$1.34RON 5.86
-8.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.36RON 5.91
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$2.36RON 10.30
-33.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.66RON 2.88
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.96RON 4.20
21.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.60RON 2.60
11.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.84RON 3.68
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$5.92RON 25.79
-23.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$4.70RON 20.50
287.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$1.14RON 4.96
60.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.17RON 5.09
176.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.56RON 2.45
58.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$14.66RON 63.9
32.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.71RON 3.08
90.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.77RON 3.34
75.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$7.04RON 30.68
17.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.63RON 7.12
-22.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$27.9KRON 121.7K
-24.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$28.3KRON 123.5K
-20.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$165RON 721
-57.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$8.33RON 36.32
65.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$8.93RON 38.95
97.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$17.58RON 76.7
136.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
$19.02RON 82.9
-65.30%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$10.96RON 47.76
-47.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$409RON 1,781
-25.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$6,614RON 28.8K
124.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$67.8RON 296
-19.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$42.73RON 186
-38.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$57.8RON 252
46.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$71.1RON 310
-2.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$346RON 1,510
22.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$271RON 1,181
-12.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$583RON 2,543
41.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$436RON 1,901
18.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$1,176RON 5,128
74.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
$943RON 4,112
61.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$759RON 3,308
-16.27%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Focsani: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $346 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 19% 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 $46.00 in Focsani. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $202 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 11% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,413 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $409 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 21% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $942 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 $852 versus $942 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared