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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $368 in Orhei, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $607 in Orhei, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $846 in Orhei, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 158% more than Orhei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Orhei are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Orhei 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$11.88 MDL 204

-82.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$23.25 MDL 399

-14.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.51 MDL 129

-22.90%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.42 MDL 24.35

28.87%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.84 MDL 14.38

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.45 MDL 7.73

-31.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.15 MDL 19.77

103.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.49 MDL 25.55

148.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.07 MDL 18.35

89.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.33 MDL 5.71

384.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.98 MDL 34.00

10.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.98 MDL 34.03

-44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.66 MDL 11.28

87.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.57 MDL 9.76

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.18 MDL 3.14

422.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.18 MDL 20.28

4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.64 MDL 28.20

-12.20%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$21.4K MDL 367.8K

27.40%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$62.9 MDL 1,080

3.21%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$7.17 MDL 123

86.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$10.69 MDL 183

94.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.52 MDL 60.3

90.63%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$34.78 MDL 597

61.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$34.93 MDL 599

-28.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$113 MDL 1,934

-17.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$34.94 MDL 600

115.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Orhei: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Orhei. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $43.00 in Orhei – so Orhei 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 Orhei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 158% more than Orhei, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $553 in Orhei. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $368 in Orhei. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 468% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Orhei, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Orhei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Orhei costs $368 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Orhei. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.