😐A single person spends $1,050 per month in Sannicolau Mare vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,564 per month in Sannicolau Mare vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,078 per month in Sannicolau Mare vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Sannicolau Mare costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sannicolau Mare and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sannicolau Mare22% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.18RON 39.82
$1.95฿62.8
370.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.09RON 200
$18.43฿594
150.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.74RON 29.24
$7.50฿241
-10.13%
Cappuccino
$3.17RON 13.76
$1.93฿62.3
64.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00RON 8.67
$0.78฿25.08
156.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RON 7.45
$0.32฿10.42
437.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68RON 11.64
$2.15฿69.2
24.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37RON 14.62
$3.71฿120
-9.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50RON 6.52
$1.71฿55.2
-12.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23RON 5.33
$1.56฿50.3
-21.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54RON 6.67
$1.18฿38.06
30.51%
Eggs
$3.41RON 14.82
$1.98฿63.9
72.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18RON 35.51
$16.04฿517
-49.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11RON 26.51
$3.17฿102
92.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.81RON 38.23
$10.94฿353
-19.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21RON 5.27
$2.63฿84.7
-53.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53RON 6.63
$1.17฿37.61
30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70RON 7.40
$1.65฿53.0
3.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23RON 9.68
$1.54฿49.51
44.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76RON 3.31
$1.38฿44.34
-44.93%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.09
$1.17฿37.54
-19.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01RON 4.38
$0.66฿21.25
53.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.71
$0.51฿16.55
68.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89RON 25.57
$4.52฿146
30.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.03RON 34.86
$18.32฿590
-56.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RON 4.51
$1.80฿57.9
-42.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RON 7.78
$3.18฿102
-43.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68RON 2.93
$0.90฿28.97
-24.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.54RON 84.8
$19.00฿612
2.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89RON 3.87
$1.41฿45.50
-36.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83RON 3.59
$1.31฿42.15
-36.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.98RON 38.98
$8.09฿261
11.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 6.96
$1.28฿41.08
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KRON 124.0K
$21.3K฿686.1K
34.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KRON 113.7K
$21.7K฿699.3K
20.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141RON 612
$69.2฿2,230
103.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.85RON 38.40
$13.97฿450
-36.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16RON 48.44
$17.95฿578
-37.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.74RON 181
$42.31฿1,363
-1.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.86RON 81.9
$6.66฿214
183.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76RON 29.32
$5.92฿191
14.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431RON 1,870
$299฿9,640
44.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,920RON 30.0K
$14.8K฿478.4K
-53.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4RON 292
$56.2฿1,810
19.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.75RON 164
$26.94฿868
40.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.9RON 364
$84.9฿2,735
-1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5RON 410
$71.8฿2,314
31.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$392RON 1,703
$435฿14.0K
-9.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288RON 1,248
$240฿7,727
19.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581RON 2,523
$798฿25.7K
-27.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436RON 1,890
$498฿16.1K
-12.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,881RON 8,165
$1,995฿64.3K
-5.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,465RON 6,360
$1,532฿49.4K
-4.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sannicolau Mare
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628฿20.2K
-
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 Sannicolau Mare: April 21, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Sannicolau Mare versus $435 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 $46 in Sannicolau Mare versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Sannicolau Mare vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Sannicolau Mare 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
Sannicolau Mare vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sannicolau Mare or Chiang Mai?
Sannicolau Mare costs about 24% 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 Sannicolau Mare vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,575 per month in Sannicolau Mare and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $431 per month in Sannicolau Mare and $299 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 Sannicolau Mare or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Sannicolau Mare – 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 Sannicolau Mare or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Sannicolau Mare at $1,050. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sannicolau Mare it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sannicolau Mare or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,050 in Sannicolau Mare. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sannicolau Mare makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Sannicolau Mare vs other spots: cost of living compared