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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,137 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,720 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,303 in Iasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$10.52 RON 47.59

-81.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$51.4 RON 232

-63.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.73 RON 30.46

16.20%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.68 RON 12.13

-27.24%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.08 RON 9.39

-59.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.74 RON 7.88

-79.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.46 RON 11.12

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.42 RON 15.47

9.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.40 RON 6.33

22.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.22 RON 5.51

33.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.87 RON 8.45

-39.04%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.21 RON 14.51

-39.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.95 RON 35.98

103.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.70 RON 30.32

-53.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.99 RON 49.71

-0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.24 RON 5.61

121.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.62 RON 7.33

-25.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.73 RON 7.84

-6.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.97 RON 8.90

-19.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.99 RON 4.48

41.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.05 RON 4.73

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.04 RON 4.68

-36.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.86 RON 3.89

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.37 RON 28.85

-26.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.61 RON 29.92

182.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.09 RON 4.95

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.98 RON 8.96

63.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.85 RON 3.84

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$27.13 RON 123

-29.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.89 RON 4.03

58.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.70 RON 3.16

84.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.84 RON 35.48

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.66 RON 7.51

-23.49%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.5K RON 129.2K

-25.44%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.3K RON 123.7K

-18.75%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$156 RON 708

-55.82%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.47 RON 38.35

66.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$10.21 RON 46.22

76.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$47.10 RON 213

-12.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$18.25 RON 82.6

-61.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.17 RON 36.99

-27.54%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$463 RON 2,095

-35.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,028 RON 31.8K

112.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$62.3 RON 282

-12.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$42.79 RON 194

-37.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$86.4 RON 391

-1.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$86.9 RON 393

-18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$474 RON 2,147

-9.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$361 RON 1,635

-34.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$750 RON 3,395

6.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$550 RON 2,491

-6.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,076 RON 13.9K

-35.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,997 RON 9,036

-26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,191 RON 5,389

-48.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.37

-32.16%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $474 in Iasi. 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 93% higher in Iasi, 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 $51.0 in Iasi. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Iasi – so Iasi 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 Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iasi costs about 31% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,706 in Iasi. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $463 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Iasi – 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 $866, than in Iasi at $1,137. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,137 in Iasi. 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, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.