😐A single person spends $1,156 per month in Chitila vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,827 per month in Chitila vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,498 per month in Chitila vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Chitila costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chitila and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chitila13% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67RON 62.5
$1.96฿64.1
597.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4RON 317
$18.39฿603
277.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.11RON 37.04
$7.87฿258
3.05%
Cappuccino
$3.24RON 14.82
$1.95฿63.9
66.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97RON 8.98
$0.85฿27.80
131.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RON 6.13
$0.32฿10.61
318.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35RON 10.76
$2.14฿70.2
9.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20RON 14.64
$3.68฿121
-13.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76RON 8.06
$1.66฿54.4
6.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28RON 5.86
$1.56฿51.1
-17.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.36
$1.19฿38.95
53.78%
Eggs
$3.30RON 15.06
$1.99฿65.2
65.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28RON 42.40
$16.24฿532
-42.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.74RON 30.78
$3.17฿104
112.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.44RON 52.3
$10.84฿355
5.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42RON 6.48
$2.65฿87.0
-46.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76RON 8.05
$1.22฿40.00
44.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78RON 8.15
$1.65฿54.1
7.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40RON 10.97
$1.55฿50.7
54.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.55
$1.33฿43.53
-24.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.32
$1.21฿39.75
-21.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92RON 4.18
$0.68฿22.22
35.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90RON 4.13
$0.57฿18.54
57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46RON 29.52
$4.68฿154
38.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.70RON 30.61
$16.99฿557
-60.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15RON 5.24
$1.82฿59.8
-36.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85RON 8.45
$3.18฿104
-41.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66RON 3.02
$0.91฿29.70
-27.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.10RON 91.8
$18.74฿614
7.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66RON 3.02
$1.41฿46.18
-53.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RON 2.99
$1.34฿43.88
-51.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10RON 32.43
$8.14฿267
-12.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.46
$1.28฿41.88
27.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRON 126.5K
$21.8K฿715.2K
26.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRON 125.1K
$22.4K฿734.1K
22.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181RON 825
$70.5฿2,310
156.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73RON 39.89
$14.05฿460
-37.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.48RON 52.5
$17.65฿578
-34.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.96RON 187
$41.29฿1,353
-0.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29RON 88.1
$6.76฿222
185.36%
Cinema Ticket
$8.14RON 37.17
$5.96฿195
36.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$540RON 2,468
$303฿9,928
78.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,298RON 37.9K
$15.0K฿490.2K
-44.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.1RON 375
$54.7฿1,793
50.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.7RON 300
$26.29฿861
149.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5RON 409
$85.8฿2,811
4.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7RON 414
$69.7฿2,284
30.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388RON 1,771
$428฿14.0K
-9.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290RON 1,323
$239฿7,834
21.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597RON 2,729
$811฿26.6K
-26.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$434RON 1,980
$510฿16.7K
-14.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,960RON 8,956
$2,025฿66.4K
-3.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,383RON 6,319
$1,502฿49.2K
-7.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chitila
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$895RON 4,090
$623฿20.4K
43.80%
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Chitila versus $428 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 44% 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 $69.0 in Chitila versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in Chitila vs $242 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 36% 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 $1,734 per month in Chitila and $1,272 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 $540 per month in Chitila and $303 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 7% 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 $800/month in Chitila or in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,156 in Chitila and $848 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chitila or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,156 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.