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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $670 in Ungheni, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,036 in Ungheni, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,402 in Ungheni, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Ungheni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ungheni are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Ungheni 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.7

$7.50 MDL 132

-72.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿666

$22.81 MDL 403

-12.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿187

$6.79 MDL 120

-17.82%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.1

$1.40 MDL 24.80

24.29%

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

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.72 MDL 12.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.71

$0.47 MDL 8.30

-31.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.05 MDL 18.61

114.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿128

$1.41 MDL 24.89

170.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.6

$1.73 MDL 30.51

16.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$0.35 MDL 6.19

348.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.72

$0.83 MDL 14.73

68.67%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿72.0

$1.98 MDL 35.00

8.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿523

$10.09 MDL 178

54.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.6

$3.87 MDL 68.4

-23.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿318

$8.49 MDL 150

11.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿87.2

$0.44 MDL 7.75

490.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.19

$1.28 MDL 22.52

-15.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.11 MDL 19.54

43.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.62

$1.12 MDL 19.80

29.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.72

$0.45 MDL 7.90

184.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.18

$0.32 MDL 5.72

246.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.30

$2.31 MDL 40.71

-68.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.72

$0.78 MDL 13.70

-35.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$3.48 MDL 61.4

22.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿591

$4.17 MDL 73.6

323.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.3

$1.42 MDL 25.02

18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.8

$1.68 MDL 29.58

66.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.95

$0.35 MDL 6.23

148.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,814

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.59

$1.66 MDL 29.38

-27.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿18.03

$0.42 MDL 7.39

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.9

$3.81 MDL 67.2

-37.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.98

$1.41 MDL 24.82

3.55%

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

$21.0K ฿703.3K

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

$26.7K ฿893.4K

$20.9K MDL 369.0K

27.67%

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

$62.1 ฿2,078

$142 MDL 2,506

-56.28%

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

$12.93 ฿433

$11.43 MDL 202

13.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿690

$16.12 MDL 285

27.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,312

$14.34 MDL 253

173.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿218

$3.97 MDL 70.0

64.23%

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

$803 ฿26.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,870

$48.76 MDL 861

14.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿854

$16.90 MDL 298

50.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,048

$33.60 MDL 593

171.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,453

$68.4 MDL 1,206

7.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.2K

$257 MDL 4,542

87.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,646

$114 MDL 2,015

152.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.6K

$344 MDL 6,071

157.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$286 MDL 5,052

82.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.6K

$2,306 MDL 40.7K

-13.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.2K

$1,701 MDL 30.0K

-15.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.2K

$559 MDL 9,870

7.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-30.37%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Ungheni: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $257 in Ungheni. 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 8% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $23.00 in Ungheni. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $166 in Ungheni – so Ungheni 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 Ungheni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Ungheni, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,005 in Ungheni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ungheni, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $942 in Chiang Mai and $670 in Ungheni. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ungheni, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Ungheni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ungheni costs $670 versus $942 in Chiang Mai. 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 Ungheni. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.