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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $954 in Râșnov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,483 in Râșnov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,012 in Râșnov, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 2% cheaper than Râșnov, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Râșnov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Râșnov 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$8.62 RON 39.48

-75.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$44.15 RON 202

-55.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.54 RON 34.56

-24.80%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.38 RON 10.88

-23.95%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.56 RON 7.16

-50.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.25 RON 5.73

-72.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.05 RON 9.38

7.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.41 RON 11.04

57.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.41 RON 6.47

45.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.17 RON 5.38

29.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.55 RON 7.10

-9.68%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.09 RON 14.16

-26.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.41 RON 38.54

92.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.30 RON 28.84

-53.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.73 RON 49.16

-12.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.00 RON 4.59

168.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.33 RON 6.10

-18.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.51 RON 6.91

7.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.93 RON 8.84

-24.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.80 RON 3.68

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.53 RON 2.41

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.87 RON 3.98

-17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.74 RON 3.40

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.33 RON 29.01

-33.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.78 RON 35.66

135.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.13 RON 5.17

44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.62 RON 7.43

79.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.73 RON 3.36

20.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$22.43 RON 103

139.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.68 RON 3.11

72.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.72 RON 3.29

-19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$6.80 RON 31.17

-64.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.85 RON 8.49

-21.62%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$29.9K RON 137.0K

-29.76%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$27.3K RON 124.9K

-3.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$108 RON 495

-41.09%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.09 RON 37.06

59.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$8.46 RON 38.77

142.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$39.55 RON 181

-1.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$20.97 RON 96.1

-81.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.49 RON 29.74

1.39%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$456 RON 2,091

71.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$7,083 RON 32.4K

107.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$56.0 RON 257

-1.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$36.94 RON 169

-33.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$78.7 RON 360

19.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$82.0 RON 375

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$398 RON 1,823

23.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$303 RON 1,388

-4.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$629 RON 2,881

41.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$462 RON 2,118

12.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,914 RON 8,766

3.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,415 RON 6,481

2.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.2

-22.64%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Râșnov: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $398 in Râșnov. 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 $44.00 in Râșnov. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $202 in Râșnov – so Râșnov 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 Râșnov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Râșnov costs about 2% 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 $1,432 in Râșnov. 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 $456 in Râșnov. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Râșnov – 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 Râșnov at $954. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Râșnov it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $954 in Râșnov. 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, Râșnov makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.