😐A single person spends $1,137 per month in Chitila vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,802 per month in Chitila vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,468 per month in Chitila vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Chitila costs about 33% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chitila and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chitila15% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.79RON 62.7
$2.04฿68.2
575.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.9RON 309
$18.71฿624
262.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24RON 37.47
$7.86฿262
4.83%
Cappuccino
$3.35RON 15.22
$2.03฿67.7
65.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89RON 8.61
$0.80฿26.64
136.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.92
$0.35฿11.68
271.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 10.28
$2.14฿71.5
5.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27RON 14.89
$3.67฿122
-10.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77RON 8.03
$1.73฿57.6
2.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25RON 5.69
$1.57฿52.4
-20.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.73
$1.20฿39.99
60.00%
Eggs
$3.31RON 15.05
$1.97฿65.8
68.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.60RON 43.63
$16.23฿541
-40.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.60RON 29.98
$3.06฿102
115.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.80RON 53.7
$10.80฿360
9.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34RON 6.10
$2.77฿92.3
-51.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78RON 8.09
$1.17฿38.94
52.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.03
$1.71฿57.0
3.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51RON 11.39
$1.59฿53.2
57.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04RON 4.72
$1.39฿46.51
-25.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.56
$1.16฿38.56
-13.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RON 4.46
$0.66฿22.05
48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.96
$0.52฿17.31
67.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53RON 29.67
$4.65฿155
40.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.55RON 29.79
$17.78฿593
-63.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 5.00
$1.79฿59.6
-38.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87RON 8.48
$3.34฿111
-44.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66RON 2.99
$0.91฿30.27
-27.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.61RON 89.2
$18.64฿622
5.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66RON 2.99
$1.41฿47.04
-53.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RON 2.96
$1.34฿44.70
-51.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.80RON 30.90
$8.11฿270
-16.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.82
$1.23฿41.16
39.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KRON 126.8K
$21.4K฿715.1K
30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KRON 127.8K
$21.8K฿728.0K
28.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184RON 837
$71.3฿2,379
157.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.76RON 39.81
$14.01฿467
-37.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.38RON 51.8
$17.93฿598
-36.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.60RON 189
$40.82฿1,362
1.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.25RON 87.5
$6.88฿230
179.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02RON 36.44
$5.72฿191
40.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544RON 2,471
$308฿10.3K
76.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,226RON 37.4K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-43.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9RON 368
$55.8฿1,860
45.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.4RON 302
$26.04฿869
154.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4RON 415
$84.8฿2,829
7.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6RON 421
$71.0฿2,368
30.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393RON 1,786
$423฿14.1K
-7.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293RON 1,330
$242฿8,088
20.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595RON 2,706
$797฿26.6K
-25.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435RON 1,980
$507฿16.9K
-14.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,968RON 8,947
$1,918฿64.0K
2.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,391RON 6,322
$1,464฿48.8K
-5.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$884RON 4,021
$595฿19.9K
48.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.78
5
35.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chitila: July 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $393 in Chitila versus $423 in Chiang Mai. 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 49% higher in Chitila, 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 $68.0 in Chitila versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Chitila vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Chitila 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
Chitila vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chitila or Chiang Mai?
Chitila costs about 33% 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 Chitila and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,706 per month in Chitila and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chitila or Chiang Mai?
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 Chitila and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $544 per month in Chitila and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chitila or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chitila – 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 Chitila or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Chitila at $1,137. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chitila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chitila or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,137 in Chitila. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chitila compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Chitila or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chitila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.