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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,237 per month in Craiova vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,776 per month in Craiova vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,314 per month in Craiova vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Craiova costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Craiova and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Craiova 10% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.84 RON 35.53

$2.08 ฿69.4

276.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.81 RON 171

$19.64 ฿654

92.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 RON 35.40

$5.65 ฿188

38.23%

Cappuccino

$2.79 RON 12.66

$1.81 ฿60.1

54.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 RON 10.74

$0.71 ฿23.75

233.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 RON 8.93

$0.32 ฿10.52

515.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 RON 11.25

$2.24 ฿74.5

10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 RON 16.59

$3.63 ฿121

0.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 RON 6.16

$1.96 ฿65.2

-30.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 RON 3.83

$1.50 ฿50.0

-44.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 RON 6.58

$1.34 ฿44.49

8.21%

Eggs

$3.61 RON 16.36

$2.26 ฿75.4

59.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 RON 34.10

$16.26 ฿541

-53.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 RON 31.18

$2.95 ฿98.4

133.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 RON 54.6

$9.94 ฿331

21.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.59

$2.57 ฿85.7

-60.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.88

$1.06 ฿35.18

43.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.70

$1.61 ฿53.7

-8.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 RON 8.25

$1.52 ฿50.6

19.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 RON 3.92

$1.27 ฿42.30

-32.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RON 3.97

$1.07 ฿35.51

-17.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.51

$0.72 ฿23.98

8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.61

$0.51 ฿16.94

56.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 RON 31.23

$4.19 ฿140

64.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 RON 29.37

$17.87 ฿595

-63.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 RON 5.72

$1.69 ฿56.4

-25.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 RON 7.04

$2.84 ฿94.5

-45.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 RON 3.82

$0.93 ฿30.82

-9.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 RON 118

$53.9 ฿1,794

-51.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$1.23 ฿41.11

-45.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 RON 3.08

$0.58 ฿19.20

17.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 RON 29.51

$2.42 ฿80.7

169.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RON 8.47

$1.41 ฿47.03

32.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K RON 133.1K

$21.4K ฿714.1K

36.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K RON 124.6K

$27.3K ฿910.2K

0.55%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$207 RON 938

$63.7 ฿2,120

224.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.58 RON 47.96

$12.85 ฿428

-17.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.54 RON 52.3

$20.22 ฿673

-42.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 RON 188

$38.74 ฿1,290

7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.06 RON 105

$3.97 ฿132

480.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 RON 35.19

$6.74 ฿224

15.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$446 RON 2,023

$778 ฿25.9K

-42.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,665 RON 39.3K

$14.6K ฿486.5K

-40.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 RON 265

$54.3 ฿1,808

7.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 RON 229

$25.45 ฿847

98.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 RON 380

$94.3 ฿3,141

-11.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 RON 498

$73.4 ฿2,446

49.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 RON 2,438

$490 ฿16.3K

9.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 RON 1,874

$289 ฿9,634

42.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 RON 4,147

$894 ฿29.8K

2.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 RON 2,861

$517 ฿17.2K

22.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,730 RON 12.4K

$1,955 ฿65.1K

39.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,044 RON 9,268

$1,477 ฿49.2K

38.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$966 RON 4,381

$602 ฿20.0K

60.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

5.57

22.80%

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

Last update for Craiova: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $538 in Craiova versus $490 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 60% higher in Craiova, 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 $38.00 in Craiova versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Craiova vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Craiova 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

Craiova vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Craiova costs about 31% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,856 per month in Craiova and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $446 per month in Craiova and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Craiova – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Craiova at $1,237. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Craiova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,237 in Craiova. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Craiova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.