🙂A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,089 in Vaslui, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,665 in Vaslui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,242 in Vaslui, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Vaslui, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Vaslui are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Vaslui21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10฿69.3
$12.40RON 56.1
-83.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84฿656
$49.04RON 222
-59.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79฿191
$8.09RON 36.63
-28.43%
Cappuccino
$1.83฿60.4
$3.10RON 14.05
-40.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78฿25.61
$2.15RON 9.72
-63.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31฿10.37
$2.21RON 10.03
-85.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34฿77.2
$2.70RON 12.21
-13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70฿122
$3.51RON 15.89
5.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03฿67.1
$1.64RON 7.43
23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60฿52.7
$1.19RON 5.39
34.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.75
$1.58RON 7.14
-10.13%
Eggs
$2.18฿71.9
$3.33RON 15.10
-34.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.91฿526
$8.43RON 38.18
88.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07฿102
$6.96RON 31.51
-55.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87฿326
$10.09RON 45.70
-2.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63฿86.8
$1.43RON 6.47
83.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10฿36.19
$1.75RON 7.94
-37.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿53.8
$1.51RON 6.82
7.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.6
$2.04RON 9.24
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24฿41.13
$0.76RON 3.46
63.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13฿37.37
$0.75RON 3.39
50.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74฿24.38
$0.67RON 3.03
10.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50฿16.48
$0.86RON 3.89
-41.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28฿141
$6.07RON 27.47
-29.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.97฿594
$6.91RON 31.29
160.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70฿56.1
$0.99RON 4.47
71.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿95.7
$1.53RON 6.95
89.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94฿31.13
$0.75RON 3.38
25.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3฿1,827
$22.47RON 102
146.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.76
$0.68RON 3.06
80.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53฿17.66
$0.64RON 2.91
-17.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.40฿79.3
$6.68RON 30.24
-64.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44฿47.55
$1.81RON 8.19
-20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿700.2K
$30.2KRON 136.7K
-29.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿902.1K
$26.7KRON 121.1K
2.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.9฿2,145
$161RON 730
-59.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35฿441
$6.62RON 29.98
101.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83฿688
$8.96RON 40.57
132.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42฿1,336
$34.69RON 157
16.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95฿131
$21.87RON 99.0
-81.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71฿222
$8.72RON 39.47
-23.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$787฿26.0K
$422RON 1,912
86.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K฿499.6K
$6,232RON 28.2K
142.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2฿1,858
$77.4RON 351
-27.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95฿824
$15.34RON 69.5
62.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7฿3,063
$94.9RON 430
-2.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1฿2,482
$103RON 466
-26.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484฿16.0K
$408RON 1,849
18.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287฿9,491
$269RON 1,218
6.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910฿30.1K
$624RON 2,828
45.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531฿17.5K
$405RON 1,836
30.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,980฿65.4K
$2,171RON 9,834
-8.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿47.9K
$1,545RON 6,998
-6.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Vaslui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$605฿20.0K
$469RON 2,123
29.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.5
-14.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Last update for Vaslui: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $408 in Vaslui. 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 29% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $49.00 in Vaslui. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $211 in Vaslui – so Vaslui 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 Vaslui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Vaslui?
Vaslui costs about 15% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Vaslui?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,633 in Vaslui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Vaslui?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Vaslui?
Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $422 in Vaslui. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Vaslui?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Vaslui – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Vaslui?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Vaslui at $1,089. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaslui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Vaslui?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,089 in Vaslui. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Vaslui?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Vaslui?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vaslui makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared