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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 9.7% more expensive than Zalau without rent, and 7.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 8% more expensive than Zalau without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$8.19 RON 35.57
-75.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$34.27 RON 149
-45.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$5.72 RON 24.81
34.09%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.01 RON 8.73
-1.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.07 RON 9
-60.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.8 RON 7.82
-81.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.74 RON 11.89
-22.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.81 RON 12.21
32.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.45 RON 6.27
13.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.26 RON 5.48
24.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.42 RON 6.15
-16.20%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.24 RON 9.73
-11.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$7.75 RON 33.65
106.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.06 RON 26.32
-48.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$8.75 RON 37.99
27.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$0.96 RON 4.15
187.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.53 RON 6.65
-20.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.56 RON 6.79
9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$2.15 RON 9.33
-27.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.71 RON 3.08
88.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.71 RON 3.08
70.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.72 RON 3.12
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.87 RON 3.8
-39.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$5.5 RON 23.88
-14.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$5.89 RON 25.56
212.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.04 RON 4.51
72.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.25 RON 5.43
156.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.95 RON 4.14
-1.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$20.16 RON 87.5
-6.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$0.94 RON 4.09
51.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.8 RON 3.46
68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$9.34 RON 40.53
-15.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.59 RON 6.92
-21.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$28.1K RON 121.8K
-24.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$26K RON 112.9K
-16.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$140 RON 606
-49.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$4.63 RON 20.11
196.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$6.76 RON 29.36
159.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$35.68 RON 155
16.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$19.21 RON 83.4
-64.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$5.6 RON 24.32
3.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$434 RON 1,885
-29.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$6,800 RON 29.5K
116.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$57.5 RON 250
-3.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$38.24 RON 166
-30.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$64.3 RON 279
32.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$68.2 RON 296
5.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$383 RON 1,664
13.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$294 RON 1,277
-20.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$586 RON 2,542
40.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$440 RON 1,909
13.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,766 RON 7,665
23.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,369 RON 5,942
12.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Zalau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$666 RON 2,893
5.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.5
-23.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Zalau: October 28, 2025

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