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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,037 in Râșnov, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,576 in Râșnov, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,114 in Râșnov, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Râșnov are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Râșnov 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$8.57 RON 38.76

-76.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$40.40 RON 183

-53.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.05 RON 36.40

-3.73%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.31 RON 10.46

-16.88%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.33 RON 6.00

-40.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.15 RON 5.22

-68.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.16 RON 9.76

2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.83 RON 12.80

29.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.52 RON 6.88

8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.17 RON 5.31

39.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.57 RON 7.10

-24.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.02 RON 13.65

-33.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$8.47 RON 38.33

88.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.98 RON 31.59

-56.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.85 RON 53.6

-8.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.01 RON 4.57

173.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.36 RON 6.16

-13.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.52 RON 6.89

7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.95 RON 8.80

-22.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.90 RON 4.07

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.92 RON 4.15

29.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.76 RON 3.42

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.80 RON 3.63

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$6.04 RON 27.31

-24.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.50 RON 33.93

120.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.07 RON 4.85

71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.69 RON 7.63

89.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.67 RON 3.05

31.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$19.81 RON 89.6

-5.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.71 RON 3.20

91.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.61 RON 2.75

119.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.80 RON 30.75

15.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.63 RON 7.36

-24.54%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$27.7K RON 125.2K

-21.87%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$27.6K RON 124.7K

-18.22%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$168 RON 758

-57.92%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$8.27 RON 37.39

65.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$9.12 RON 41.24

91.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$41.59 RON 188

-0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$19.03 RON 86.1

-63.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.90 RON 26.68

-2.20%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$445 RON 2,013

-31.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$6,566 RON 29.7K

122.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$72.5 RON 328

-23.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$42.20 RON 191

-37.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$97.0 RON 439

-11.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$79.1 RON 358

-8.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$392 RON 1,773

9.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$286 RON 1,294

-16.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$595 RON 2,693

37.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$441 RON 1,994

15.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,938 RON 8,766

2.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,395 RON 6,309

6.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

-35.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Râșnov: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $392 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Râșnov. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $211 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 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,555 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $445 in Râșnov. 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 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 $869, than in Râșnov at $1,037. 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 $869 versus $1,037 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.