Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $839 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,355 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sfantu Gheorghe is about 12% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sfantu Gheorghe and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sfantu Gheorghe 39% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.60 RON 38.81

$2.10 ฿68.8

309.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.65 RON 202

$19.84 ฿651

125.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 RON 34.76

$5.79 ฿190

32.99%

Cappuccino

$2.61 RON 11.78

$1.83 ฿60.0

42.62%

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

$1.34 RON 6.05

$0.78 ฿25.43

71.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 RON 4.88

$0.31 ฿10.30

248.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 RON 11.71

$2.34 ฿76.7

10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.14

$3.70 ฿121

-39.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 RON 6.58

$2.03 ฿66.6

-28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 RON 5.27

$1.60 ฿52.4

-26.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.64

$1.42 ฿46.43

3.52%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 15.93

$2.18 ฿71.4

61.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 RON 36.59

$15.91 ฿522

-49.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 RON 21.69

$3.07 ฿101

56.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 RON 37.76

$9.87 ฿324

-15.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.14

$2.63 ฿86.2

-56.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 RON 7.37

$1.10 ฿35.94

48.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 RON 5.71

$1.63 ฿53.5

-22.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RON 12.13

$1.53 ฿50.2

75.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 RON 3.15

$1.24 ฿40.84

-43.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.86

$1.13 ฿37.11

-44.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 RON 4.86

$0.74 ฿24.21

45.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RON 3.79

$0.50 ฿16.37

68.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 RON 23.21

$4.28 ฿140

20.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 RON 34.63

$17.97 ฿590

-57.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.40

$1.70 ฿55.7

-42.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 4.95

$2.90 ฿95.0

-62.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$0.94 ฿30.91

-4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.69 RON 75.4

$55.3 ฿1,814

-69.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 RON 4.61

$1.23 ฿40.48

-17.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 RON 4.17

$0.53 ฿17.53

73.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 RON 38.92

$2.40 ฿78.8

259.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.35

$1.44 ฿47.22

13.19%

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

$30.1K RON 136.0K

$21.2K ฿695.3K

42.18%

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

$26.1K RON 117.7K

$27.3K ฿895.9K

-4.54%

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

$121 RON 545

$64.9 ฿2,130

85.85%

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

$9.53 RON 43.03

$13.35 ฿438

-28.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 RON 59.2

$20.83 ฿684

-37.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.20 RON 191

$40.42 ฿1,326

4.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.66 RON 97.8

$3.95 ฿130

448.35%

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 RON 14.68

$6.71 ฿220

-51.56%

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

$462 RON 2,085

$787 ฿25.8K

-41.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,059 RON 31.9K

$15.1K ฿496.2K

-53.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.74 RON 125

$56.2 ฿1,845

-50.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.43 RON 65.1

$24.95 ฿819

-42.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.29 RON 186

$92.7 ฿3,042

-55.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 RON 300

$75.1 ฿2,465

-11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,372

$484 ฿15.9K

-37.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 RON 1,011

$287 ฿9,425

-22.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 RON 2,477

$910 ฿29.8K

-39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 RON 1,844

$531 ฿17.4K

-23.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 RON 8,730

$1,980 ฿65.0K

-2.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,396 RON 6,302

$1,451 ฿47.6K

-3.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 RON 3,206

$605 ฿19.9K

17.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

5.57

21.18%

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

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $484 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 17% higher in Sfantu Gheorghe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Sfantu Gheorghe 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

Sfantu Gheorghe vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 $1,259 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $462 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe and $787 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Sfantu Gheorghe 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. Sfantu Gheorghe costs $839 versus $950 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 Sfantu Gheorghe. 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.