Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ramnicu Sarat Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ramnicu Sarat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,110 in Ramnicu Sarat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,770 in Ramnicu Sarat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,431 in Ramnicu Sarat, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Ramnicu Sarat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ramnicu Sarat are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ramnicu Sarat 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$13.36 RON 61.2

-84.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$66.3 RON 304

-70.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.66 RON 35.11

-25.98%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.45 RON 15.82

-47.54%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.81 RON 8.29

-57.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.31 RON 6.01

-73.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.26 RON 10.35

-2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.34 RON 15.32

13.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.71 RON 7.83

19.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.31 RON 5.99

15.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.73 RON 7.91

-19.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.18 RON 14.55

-28.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.16 RON 37.36

98.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.97 RON 27.33

-51.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.47 RON 43.38

-0.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.37 RON 6.28

95.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.68 RON 7.68

-35.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.65 RON 7.54

-1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.78 RON 12.75

-47.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.01 RON 4.62

26.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.00 RON 4.58

6.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.03 RON 4.73

-30.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.85 RON 3.89

-37.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.67 RON 30.57

-36.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.57 RON 30.08

178.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.11 RON 5.11

46.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.84 RON 8.45

57.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.74 RON 3.38

18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$22.40 RON 103

140.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.86 RON 3.93

36.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.85 RON 3.90

-31.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$7.92 RON 36.28

-69.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.93 RON 8.82

-24.87%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$29.7K RON 135.9K

-29.17%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$26.1K RON 119.7K

1.09%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$178 RON 815

-64.22%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$7.83 RON 35.85

64.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$8.53 RON 39.08

140.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$40.74 RON 187

-4.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$21.18 RON 97.0

-81.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.21 RON 33.02

-8.74%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$592 RON 2,713

32.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,173 RON 37.4K

79.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$68.6 RON 314

-19.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$47.90 RON 219

-48.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$92.4 RON 423

1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$92.2 RON 422

-19.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$410 RON 1,879

19.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$300 RON 1,372

-3.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$636 RON 2,914

40.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$480 RON 2,198

8.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,920 RON 8,794

2.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,429 RON 6,548

1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.99

-20.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ramnicu Sarat: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $410 in Ramnicu Sarat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $66.0 in Ramnicu Sarat. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Ramnicu Sarat – so Ramnicu Sarat 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 Ramnicu Sarat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ramnicu Sarat costs about 19% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,664 in Ramnicu Sarat. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $592 in Ramnicu Sarat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Ramnicu Sarat – 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 $932, than in Ramnicu Sarat at $1,110. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ramnicu Sarat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,110 in Ramnicu Sarat. 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, Ramnicu Sarat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.