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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,474 per month in Rumia vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,154 per month in Rumia vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,834 per month in Rumia vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Rumia costs about 71% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Rumia sits 10% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.73 zł 48.31

$1.96 ฿65.8

549.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.91 zł 159

$18.35 ฿617

128.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 zł 25.03

$7.48 ฿252

-11.76%

Cappuccino

$3.58 zł 13.58

$2.02 ฿67.8

77.23%

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

$1.91 zł 7.26

$0.85 ฿28.50

124.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 zł 6.12

$0.36 ฿11.96

347.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 zł 12.27

$2.14 ฿71.8

50.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 zł 13.70

$3.59 ฿121

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 zł 4.05

$1.65 ฿55.5

-35.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 zł 5.16

$1.57 ฿52.7

-13.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 zł 5.21

$1.19 ฿40.02

15.13%

Eggs

$3.88 zł 14.74

$1.94 ฿65.1

100.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 zł 34.88

$16.19 ฿544

-43.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 zł 25.05

$2.99 ฿101

120.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 zł 40.73

$10.94 ฿368

-1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 zł 4.13

$2.71 ฿91.2

-59.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 zł 6.76

$1.17 ฿39.25

52.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 zł 6.57

$1.69 ฿56.7

2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 zł 10.98

$1.60 ฿54.0

80.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 zł 3.64

$1.38 ฿46.54

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 zł 4.30

$1.20 ฿40.45

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 zł 4.90

$0.67 ฿22.50

92.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 zł 4.05

$0.56 ฿18.73

91.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 zł 19.08

$4.64 ฿156

8.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 zł 26.51

$17.62 ฿593

-60.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 zł 4.13

$1.86 ฿62.5

-41.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 zł 6.13

$3.30 ฿111

-50.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 zł 5.15

$0.88 ฿29.68

54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.56 zł 131

$19.34 ฿650

78.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 zł 8.27

$1.36 ฿45.90

60.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 zł 2.72

$1.34 ฿44.98

-46.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.74 zł 40.77

$8.21 ฿276

30.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 zł 6.94

$1.22 ฿41.18

50.00%

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

$33.7K zł 128.0K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

57.95%

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

$30.3K zł 115.1K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

34.69%

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

$274 zł 1,038

$70.7 ฿2,376

287.26%

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

$8.48 zł 32.18

$14.04 ฿472

-39.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.60 zł 63.0

$17.49 ฿588

-5.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 zł 137

$42.15 ฿1,417

-14.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.83 zł 75.3

$6.88 ฿231

188.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 zł 28.78

$5.92 ฿199

28.21%

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

$344 zł 1,304

$309 ฿10.4K

11.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,049 zł 30.5K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-45.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.0 zł 341

$55.8 ฿1,875

61.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.07 zł 163

$26.11 ฿878

64.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 zł 310

$83.0 ฿2,792

-1.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 zł 355

$70.5 ฿2,369

32.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 zł 2,429

$432 ฿14.5K

48.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 zł 1,887

$239 ฿8,035

108.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 zł 3,662

$822 ฿27.7K

17.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 zł 3,076

$512 ฿17.2K

58.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,149 zł 11.9K

$1,915 ฿64.4K

64.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,325 zł 8,821

$1,467 ฿49.3K

58.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,491 zł 5,658

$579 ฿19.5K

157.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

35.00%

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

Last update for Rumia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Rumia versus $432 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 157% higher in Rumia, 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 $42.00 in Rumia versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Rumia vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Rumia 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

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

Rumia costs about 71% 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 $2,211 per month in Rumia and $1,292 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 $344 per month in Rumia and $309 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 10% cheaper in Rumia – 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 $861, than in Rumia at $1,474. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rumia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,474 in Rumia. 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, Rumia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.