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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,136 in Galati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,731 in Galati, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,327 in Galati, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 25% cheaper than Galati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Galati are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Galati 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$11.70 RON 51.0

-83.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$45.48 RON 198

-58.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.02 RON 34.97

-1.25%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.65 RON 11.56

-27.92%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.21 RON 9.62

-61.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.84 RON 8.04

-80.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.32 RON 10.12

-4.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.31 RON 14.43

14.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.34 RON 5.85

22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.89 RON 3.89

82.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.91 RON 8.32

-38.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.61 RON 15.75

-44.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.62 RON 37.56

84.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.09 RON 26.53

-50.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.96 RON 39.08

20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.25 RON 5.46

108.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.71 RON 7.47

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.72 RON 7.48

-1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.90 RON 8.30

-16.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.02 RON 4.45

29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.10 RON 4.81

6.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.95 RON 4.16

-29.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.73 RON 3.17

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.91 RON 25.76

-23.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.84 RON 25.46

211.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.91 RON 3.97

101.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.33 RON 5.80

142.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.56 RON 2.42

58.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$27.01 RON 118

-28.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.69 RON 3.00

95.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.62 RON 2.68

117.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.57 RON 32.99

8.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.57 RON 6.85

-19.11%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$28.4K RON 123.9K

-25.54%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$26.6K RON 115.8K

-15.31%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$163 RON 712

-57.06%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$8.24 RON 35.93

67.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$8.61 RON 37.54

104.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$33.82 RON 147

22.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$38.10 RON 166

-82.68%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.48 RON 28.27

-10.80%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$643 RON 2,803

-52.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,442 RON 23.7K

172.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$102 RON 447

-46.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$34.89 RON 152

-25.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$64.4 RON 281

31.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$97.3 RON 424

-28.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$437 RON 1,906

-3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$342 RON 1,493

-30.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$618 RON 2,695

33.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$535 RON 2,335

-3.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,668 RON 7,274

22.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,301 RON 5,673

17.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$935 RON 4,077

-32.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Galati: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $437 in Galati. 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 47% higher in Galati, 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 $45.00 in Galati. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Galati – so Galati 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 Galati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Galati costs about 33% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,703 in Galati. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $643 in Galati. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Galati – 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 $852, than in Galati at $1,136. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,136 in Galati. 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, Galati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.