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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,118 in Turda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,707 in Turda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,297 in Turda, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Turda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Turda are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Turda 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$13.33 RON 61.1

-84.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$33.98 RON 156

-42.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.71 RON 39.92

-34.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.89 RON 13.26

-37.37%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.92 RON 8.81

-59.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$1.41 RON 6.46

-75.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.26 RON 10.37

-2.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.27 RON 10.41

66.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.59 RON 7.30

28.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.49 RON 6.84

1.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.62 RON 7.44

-13.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.93 RON 13.44

-22.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$6.46 RON 29.61

150.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.91 RON 31.68

-58.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$12.42 RON 56.9

-24.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.20 RON 5.52

123.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.55 RON 7.11

-29.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.38 RON 6.32

17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$2.55 RON 11.69

-42.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.98 RON 4.51

30.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.04 RON 4.76

1.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.98 RON 4.47

-26.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$1.03 RON 4.70

-48.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.44 RON 24.96

-22.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$7.63 RON 35.00

139.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.36 RON 6.22

19.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.74 RON 8.00

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$1.30 RON 5.97

-32.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$22.77 RON 104

136.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.80 RON 3.68

46.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.81 RON 3.71

-28.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$6.20 RON 28.43

-61.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.77 RON 8.12

-18.08%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$29.8K RON 136.4K

-29.38%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$26.4K RON 121.0K

0.08%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$166 RON 759

-61.58%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.76 RON 40.16

47.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$10.47 RON 48.00

95.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$39.34 RON 180

-0.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$19.56 RON 89.7

-79.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$10.00 RON 45.86

-34.20%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$625 RON 2,865

25.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$6,662 RON 30.5K

120.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$44.10 RON 202

24.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$44.61 RON 205

-44.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$106 RON 485

-11.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$116 RON 532

-36.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$404 RON 1,852

21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$299 RON 1,372

-3.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$636 RON 2,914

40.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$472 RON 2,166

10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,890 RON 8,666

4.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,338 RON 6,134

7.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$760 RON 3,483

-20.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.8

-18.09%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Turda: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $404 in Turda. 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 26% higher in Turda, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Turda. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Turda – so Turda 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 Turda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Turda costs about 20% 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 $1,677 in Turda. 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 $625 in Turda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Turda – 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 Turda at $1,118. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,118 in Turda. 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, Turda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.