😐A single person spends $1,126 per month in Giurgiu vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,729 per month in Giurgiu vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,332 per month in Giurgiu vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Giurgiu costs about 32% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Giurgiu and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Giurgiu16% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.13RON 52.8
$1.96฿63.6
518.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.90RON 217
$18.81฿611
165.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03RON 34.91
$7.92฿258
1.39%
Cappuccino
$3.58RON 15.58
$1.91฿62.2
87.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95RON 8.48
$0.84฿27.25
132.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11RON 9.17
$0.35฿11.44
502.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25RON 14.15
$2.21฿71.7
47.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43RON 14.92
$3.80฿124
-9.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55RON 6.75
$1.64฿53.2
-5.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30RON 5.66
$1.62฿52.8
-19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76RON 7.67
$1.18฿38.40
49.15%
Eggs
$3.38RON 14.69
$2.01฿65.4
68.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.45RON 36.75
$15.89฿517
-46.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.81RON 29.62
$3.01฿98.0
126.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.80RON 51.3
$10.77฿350
9.56%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17RON 5.09
$2.61฿85.0
-55.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.19
$1.22฿39.65
35.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60RON 6.94
$1.70฿55.4
-5.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47RON 10.75
$1.58฿51.2
56.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01RON 4.40
$1.32฿42.89
-23.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07RON 4.64
$1.17฿38.01
-8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93RON 4.06
$0.67฿21.85
38.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84RON 3.65
$0.56฿18.21
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73RON 24.91
$4.53฿147
26.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.83RON 29.72
$18.20฿592
-62.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11RON 4.82
$1.83฿59.6
-39.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67RON 7.28
$3.23฿105
-48.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.90
$0.89฿28.83
-24.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.16RON 87.7
$19.38฿630
4.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.08
$1.35฿43.95
-47.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73RON 3.18
$1.35฿43.79
-45.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.90RON 30.01
$8.25฿268
-16.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67RON 7.26
$1.27฿41.40
31.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 123.9K
$21.2K฿687.8K
34.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRON 121.0K
$22.5K฿731.0K
23.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164RON 711
$70.2฿2,281
133.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32RON 36.18
$13.77฿448
-39.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.82RON 38.36
$17.60฿572
-49.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.37RON 180
$41.57฿1,352
-0.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.38RON 84.3
$6.60฿215
193.64%
Cinema Ticket
$10.93RON 47.53
$5.78฿188
89.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456RON 1,982
$306฿9,953
48.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642RON 28.9K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-55.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3RON 293
$54.4฿1,768
23.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.67RON 190
$26.14฿850
67.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.6RON 429
$84.5฿2,748
16.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1RON 427
$69.4฿2,257
41.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388RON 1,689
$424฿13.8K
-8.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287RON 1,250
$238฿7,743
20.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592RON 2,574
$825฿26.8K
-28.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439RON 1,910
$515฿16.7K
-14.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,680RON 7,307
$2,049฿66.6K
-18.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,351RON 5,876
$1,523฿49.5K
-11.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Giurgiu
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
5
54.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Giurgiu: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Giurgiu versus $424 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Giurgiu versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Giurgiu vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Giurgiu 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
Giurgiu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Giurgiu or Chiang Mai?
Giurgiu costs about 32% 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 Giurgiu vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,690 per month in Giurgiu and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Giurgiu and $306 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 Giurgiu or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Giurgiu – 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 Giurgiu or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Giurgiu at $1,126. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Giurgiu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Giurgiu or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,126 in Giurgiu. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Giurgiu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.