Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cimislia and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Cimislia: $789 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. The total is higher in Chiang Mai despite lower rent and utilities.

Cimislia
🇲🇩 Moldova
$789
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cimislia and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cimislia and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $789 per month in Cimislia vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cimislia $789
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,125 per month in Cimislia vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cimislia $1,125
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,461 per month in Cimislia vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Cimislia $1,461
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Cimislia is about 15% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cimislia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cimislia 42% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69 MDL 119
$2.29 ฿76.5
192.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.58 MDL 401
$19.64 ฿656
14.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 MDL 189
$5.61 ฿188
90.02%
Cappuccino
$1.63 MDL 29.02
$1.66 ฿55.6
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 MDL 19.62
$0.70 ฿23.40
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MDL 11.40
$0.31 ฿10.24
106.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.11 MDL 19.67
$2.41 ฿80.4
-53.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 MDL 38.65
$3.71 ฿124
-41.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 MDL 18.38
$1.95 ฿65.3
-47.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.40 MDL 7.15
$1.41 ฿47.03
-71.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 MDL 27.32
$1.31 ฿43.62
17.56%
Eggs
$2.07 MDL 36.70
$2.18 ฿72.9
-5.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.86 MDL 122
$16.65 ฿556
-58.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.95 MDL 70.1
$2.76 ฿92.2
43.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.24 MDL 111
$9.11 ฿304
-31.50%
Apples (1kg)
$0.54 MDL 9.59
$2.39 ฿80.0
-77.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 MDL 39.96
$1.03 ฿34.26
118.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 MDL 25.34
$1.63 ฿54.4
-12.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MDL 35.06
$1.50 ฿50.0
31.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 MDL 10.24
$1.29 ฿43.13
-55.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 MDL 9.18
$1.11 ฿37.03
-53.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 MDL 8.19
$0.72 ฿24.08
-36.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MDL 10.28
$0.53 ฿17.59
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 MDL 58.9
$4.31 ฿144
-23.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.49 MDL 79.8
$17.95 ฿600
-74.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 MDL 20.42
$1.58 ฿52.9
-27.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 MDL 35.61
$2.84 ฿95.0
-29.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 MDL 4.78
$0.86 ฿28.86
-68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 MDL 49.90
$1.21 ฿40.29
132.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 MDL 4.63
$0.57 ฿18.99
-54.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.55 MDL 98.6
$2.35 ฿78.6
136.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MDL 24.68
$1.44 ฿47.96
-3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K MDL 589.1K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
60.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K MDL 432.5K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-9.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$226 MDL 4,006
$62.3 ฿2,083
261.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.71 MDL 137
$12.11 ฿405
-36.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.03 MDL 196
$19.94 ฿666
-44.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.80 MDL 298
$37.07 ฿1,239
-54.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.78 ฿126
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 MDL 133
$6.50 ฿217
15.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 MDL 1,989
$793 ฿26.5K
-85.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,295 MDL 94.0K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-64.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.08 MDL 801
$53.7 ฿1,796
-16.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.62 ฿823
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$55.2 MDL 981
$90.9 ฿3,036
-39.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8 MDL 903
$71.1 ฿2,378
-28.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 MDL 3,991
$455 ฿15.2K
-50.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 MDL 2,984
$298 ฿9,954
-43.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$330 MDL 5,854
$908 ฿30.4K
-63.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$280 MDL 4,981
$554 ฿18.5K
-49.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$743 MDL 13.2K
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-61.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$685 MDL 12.2K
$1,445 ฿48.3K
-52.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$425 MDL 7,550
$591 ฿19.7K
-28.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%

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

Last update for Cimislia: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
$244
Chiang Mai
$94 61.4% $150
Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
$168
Chiang Mai
$298 77.3% $130
Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
$150
Chiang Mai
$235 57.1% $86
Eating Out
Cimislia
$122
Chiang Mai
$79 35.6% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
$68 *
Chiang Mai
$108 59.1% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
$32
Chiang Mai
$50 57.4% $18
Getting Around
Cimislia
$5.2 *
Chiang Mai
$61 1071% $56

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Cimislia versus $455 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 39% 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 $23.00 in Cimislia versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Cimislia vs $235 in Chiang Mai – so Cimislia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇩 Cimislia
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
18:00 6:00 PM
22:00 10:00 PM
4 h ahead of Cimislia
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,100
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MDL – Moldovan Leu Converter

Moldovan Leu exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 17.76 MDL (100 MDL = 5.63 USD). 1 EUR = 19.97 MDL (100 MDL = 5.01 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cimislia Chiang Mai 7,000 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cimislia
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cimislia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Cimislia, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Cimislia and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,184 per month in Cimislia and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cimislia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Cimislia and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cimislia and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimislia or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 57% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimislia or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cimislia, where all-in costs run around $789, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Cimislia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cimislia costs $789 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cimislia 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 Cimislia or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Cimislia. 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.

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