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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $382 per month in Orhei vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $622 per month in Orhei vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $861 per month in Orhei vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Orhei is about 60% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Orhei and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Orhei 72% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.54 MDL 198

$2.08 ฿69.2

454.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.15 MDL 396

$19.64 ฿651

17.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 MDL 128

$5.65 ฿188

32.04%

Cappuccino

$1.42 MDL 24.31

$1.81 ฿59.9

-21.55%

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

$0.78 MDL 13.41

$0.71 ฿23.66

9.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MDL 7.67

$0.32 ฿10.48

40.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 MDL 19.44

$2.24 ฿74.2

-49.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 MDL 24.62

$3.63 ฿121

-60.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 MDL 18.23

$1.96 ฿65.0

-45.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 MDL 5.81

$1.50 ฿49.83

-77.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

Eggs

$2.05 MDL 35.03

$2.26 ฿75.1

-9.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 MDL 35.50

$1.06 ฿35.04

95.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 MDL 10.95

$1.27 ฿42.14

-49.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MDL 9.22

$0.51 ฿16.87

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 MDL 3.39

$0.93 ฿30.70

-78.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MDL 20.62

$1.23 ฿40.95

-2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MDL 27.29

$1.41 ฿46.84

12.77%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$21.4K MDL 366.8K

$27.3K ฿906.7K

-21.61%

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

$62.8 MDL 1,076

$63.7 ฿2,112

-1.30%

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

$6.80 MDL 116

$12.85 ฿426

-47.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.43 MDL 179

$20.22 ฿671

-48.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 MDL 60.4

$6.74 ฿223

-47.63%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.51 MDL 591

$54.3 ฿1,801

-36.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 MDL 604

$25.45 ฿844

38.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 MDL 1,902

$94.3 ฿3,129

17.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.63 MDL 593

$73.4 ฿2,436

-52.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Orhei: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Orhei versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $43.00 in Orhei vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Orhei 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 148% more than Orhei, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $573 per month in Orhei and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $382 in Orhei and $947 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 458% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Orhei, where all-in costs run around $382, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Orhei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Orhei costs $382 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Orhei. 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.