😐A single person spends $1,118 per month in Galati vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,722 per month in Galati vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,327 per month in Galati vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Galati costs about 29% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Galati and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Galati17% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30RON 51.1
$1.98฿64.3
470.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.26RON 209
$18.80฿612
146.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.28RON 37.47
$7.75฿252
6.84%
Cappuccino
$2.63RON 11.91
$1.92฿62.5
36.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RON 10.00
$0.79฿25.79
179.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.68
$0.36฿11.62
433.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26RON 10.21
$2.21฿72.1
2.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43RON 15.52
$3.66฿119
-6.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40RON 6.33
$1.65฿53.8
-15.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90RON 4.06
$1.63฿53.2
-44.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.70
$1.19฿38.86
61.34%
Eggs
$3.79RON 17.13
$2.00฿65.1
89.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67RON 39.20
$15.98฿520
-45.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.34RON 28.69
$3.03฿98.5
109.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.04RON 40.90
$10.86฿354
-16.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24RON 5.63
$2.76฿90.0
-55.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.77
$1.18฿38.42
45.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66RON 7.51
$1.64฿53.5
1.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84RON 8.34
$1.52฿49.51
21.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06RON 4.79
$1.38฿45.10
-23.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10RON 4.96
$1.19฿38.84
-7.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95RON 4.29
$0.70฿22.86
35.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75RON 3.37
$0.56฿18.13
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91RON 26.75
$4.58฿149
29.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.61RON 25.37
$16.56฿539
-66.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93RON 4.19
$1.83฿59.5
-49.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.86
$3.20฿104
-59.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60RON 2.70
$0.88฿28.56
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.44RON 120
$18.72฿610
41.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73RON 3.31
$1.36฿44.16
-46.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61RON 2.78
$1.34฿43.65
-54.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44RON 33.65
$7.84฿256
-5.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54RON 6.95
$1.23฿39.92
25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KRON 127.5K
$21.6K฿704.3K
30.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 118.1K
$22.5K฿734.3K
15.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161RON 727
$70.5฿2,298
127.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.36RON 37.82
$13.68฿445
-38.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.64RON 39.09
$17.45฿568
-50.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.52RON 152
$41.33฿1,346
-18.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.57RON 174
$6.96฿227
454.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56RON 29.68
$5.77฿188
13.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$647RON 2,927
$307฿10.0K
110.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,517RON 25.0K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-62.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100.0RON 452
$55.8฿1,817
79.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.13RON 159
$26.21฿854
34.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.7RON 288
$85.8฿2,793
-25.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6RON 446
$72.2฿2,353
36.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437RON 1,978
$430฿14.0K
1.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349RON 1,577
$239฿7,774
46.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$636RON 2,877
$817฿26.6K
-22.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536RON 2,426
$511฿16.6K
4.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,678RON 7,590
$1,983฿64.6K
-15.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,257RON 5,685
$1,484฿48.3K
-15.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$934RON 4,225
$619฿20.2K
50.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5
30.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Galati: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $437 in Galati versus $430 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 51% higher in Galati, 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 $46.00 in Galati versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Galati vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Galati 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
Galati vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Galati or Chiang Mai?
Galati costs about 29% 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 Galati vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,677 per month in Galati and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Galati 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 Galati and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $647 per month in Galati and $307 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 Galati or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Galati – 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 Galati or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,118 in Galati and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Galati or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,118 in Galati. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Galati 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 Galati or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Galati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.