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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $536 in Abadan versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $836 in Abadan versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,135 in Abadan versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Abadan costs roughly 38% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abadan 60% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 $4.02

$1.94 ฿63.5

107.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.96 $16.96

$18.64 ฿609

-9.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 $4.59

$7.82 ฿255

-41.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 $0.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.95 ฿63.8

-43.59%

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

$0.42 $0.42

$0.85 ฿27.77

-50.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.35 ฿11.58

168.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.71 ฿56.0

-39.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.14 ฿37.15

69.30%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$1.93 ฿63.1

-41.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.50 $3.50

$16.21 ฿530

-78.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.12 ฿102

1.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.03 $10.03

$10.90 ฿356

-7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$2.75 ฿90.0

-66.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.21 ฿39.52

13.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.62 ฿53.0

-48.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 $0.57

$1.59 ฿51.8

-64.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.40 ฿45.70

-65.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.17 ฿38.17

-58.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.66 ฿21.60

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 $0.25

$0.53 ฿17.22

-52.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 $2.17

$4.69 ฿153

-53.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.90 ฿29.26

-75.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.08 $10.08

$19.21 ฿628

-47.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 $0.34

$1.41 ฿45.91

-75.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 $0.29

$1.29 ฿42.12

-77.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$7.84 ฿256

-74.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.27 ฿41.58

-42.52%

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

$71.7K $71.7K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

236.78%

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

$55.6K $55.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

150.54%

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

$16.05 $16.05

$69.1 ฿2,256

-76.76%

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

$2.12 $2.12

$14.08 ฿460

-84.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.90 $5.90

$18.00 ฿588

-67.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.08 $16.08

$41.06 ฿1,341

-60.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.56 $12.56

$6.96 ฿227

80.46%

Cinema Ticket

$1.52 $1.52

$5.92 ฿193

-74.32%

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

$115 $115

$299 ฿9,766

-61.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,968 $1,968

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-86.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.66 $22.66

$54.7 ฿1,787

-58.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.53 $24.53

$26.77 ฿874

-8.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$85.0 ฿2,776

27.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 $71.2

$70.6 ฿2,306

0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 $288

$428 ฿14.0K

-32.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 $203

$237 ฿7,752

-14.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 $628

$801 ฿26.2K

-21.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 $323

$515 ฿16.8K

-37.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$710 $710

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-64.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,055 $1,055

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-28.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 $453

$617 ฿20.2K

-26.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

344.80%

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

Last update for Abadan: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $288 in Abadan and $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $17.00 in Abadan vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $111 vs $246 per month, with Abadan cheaper across the board.

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

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

Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 36% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $288 in Abadan versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $536 per month in Abadan versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Abadan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Abadan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Abadan and Chiang Mai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.