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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $934 in Rădăuți, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,511 in Rădăuți, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,087 in Rădăuți, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Rădăuți, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Rădăuți are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rădăuți 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$10.15 RON 44.27
-80.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$56.8 RON 248
-66.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$8.24 RON 35.93
-3.88%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$2.25 RON 9.82
-15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$2.32 RON 10.13
-63.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$1.41 RON 6.14
-75.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.47 RON 6.40
50.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$2.25 RON 9.81
68.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.13 RON 4.93
45.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$1.12 RON 4.88
44.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$1.59 RON 6.94
-25.79%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$2.36 RON 10.30
-14.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$7.96 RON 34.70
99.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$5.89 RON 25.70
-48.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$9.40 RON 40.97
14.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$0.66 RON 2.88
295.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$1.57 RON 6.86
-22.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$1.56 RON 6.81
8.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$1.89 RON 8.24
-16.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$0.96 RON 4.17
37.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$0.90 RON 3.94
30.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$0.83 RON 3.62
-19.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.77 RON 3.36
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$3.80 RON 16.59
19.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$6.80 RON 29.63
167.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$0.71 RON 3.10
157.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.17 RON 5.11
176.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$0.72 RON 3.12
23.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$19.73 RON 86.0
-1.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$1.01 RON 4.40
33.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$0.82 RON 3.59
64.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$9.19 RON 40.07
-10.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$1.70 RON 7.42
-25.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$28.5K RON 124.4K
-25.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$26.3K RON 114.6K
-14.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$156 RON 680
-54.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$8.91 RON 38.85
54.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$10.04 RON 43.77
75.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$42.20 RON 184
-1.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
$19.27 RON 84.0
-65.75%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$8.25 RON 35.99
-29.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$399 RON 1,741
-23.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$10.5K RON 45.9K
40.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$69.1 RON 301
-21.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$40.00 RON 174
-34.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$85.8 RON 374
-1.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$101 RON 440
-31.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$229 RON 999
84.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$170 RON 740
40.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$459 RON 2,001
79.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$344 RON 1,499
49.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rădăuți
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
$819 RON 3,569
-22.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.85
-14.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rădăuți: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $229 in Rădăuți. 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 29% higher in Rădăuți, 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 $57.0 in Rădăuți. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Rădăuți – so Rădăuți 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 Rădăuți: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Rădăuți?
Rădăuți costs about 10% 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 Rădăuți?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,401 in Rădăuți. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Rădăuți?
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 Rădăuți?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $399 in Rădăuți. 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 Rădăuți?
Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Rădăuți – 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 Rădăuți?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $934 in Rădăuți, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Rădăuți?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $934 in Rădăuți. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Rădăuți?
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 Rădăuți?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rădăuți makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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