😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Adma versus $866 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Adma versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,975 in Adma versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.
😐Living in Adma is roughly 1% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Adma35% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.96LBP 981.0K
$1.94฿63.5
464.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3LBP 5.4M
$18.64฿609
223.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86LBP 703.1K
$7.82฿255
0.51%
Cappuccino
$3.25LBP 290.6K
$1.95฿63.8
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56LBP 140.0K
$0.85฿27.77
83.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93LBP 83.4K
$0.35฿11.58
165.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52LBP 315.2K
$2.13฿69.6
65.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09LBP 455.2K
$3.73฿122
36.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LBP 160.6K
$1.71฿56.0
4.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80LBP 71.6K
$1.63฿53.2
-50.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74LBP 155.9K
$1.14฿37.15
52.63%
Eggs
$3.05LBP 273.1K
$1.93฿63.1
58.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49LBP 1.0M
$16.21฿530
-29.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.36LBP 837.9K
$3.12฿102
200.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.49LBP 1.0M
$10.90฿356
5.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75LBP 156.6K
$2.75฿90.0
-36.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51LBP 135.2K
$1.21฿39.52
24.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.8K
$1.62฿53.0
-32.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.2K
$1.59฿51.8
-30.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98LBP 88.1K
$1.40฿45.70
-30.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04LBP 92.8K
$1.17฿38.17
-11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83LBP 74.4K
$0.66฿21.60
25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LBP 46.9K
$0.53฿17.22
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45LBP 219.3K
$4.69฿153
-47.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.06LBP 900.2K
$18.66฿609
-46.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25LBP 111.6K
$1.80฿58.8
-30.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16LBP 193.6K
$3.23฿106
-33.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.05LBP 452.0K
$1.41฿45.91
258.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24LBP 110.8K
$1.29฿42.12
-3.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.83LBP 1.8M
$7.84฿256
152.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90LBP 80.6K
$1.27฿41.58
-29.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KLBP 3.2B
$21.3K฿694.9K
65.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KLBP 2.5B
$22.2K฿725.4K
26.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217LBP 19.4M
$69.1฿2,256
214.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.36LBP 3.4M
$14.08฿460
172.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.21LBP 3.3M
$18.00฿588
106.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,341
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.91LBP 708.1K
$5.92฿193
33.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$301LBP 26.9M
$299฿9,766
0.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,452LBP 398.5M
$15.0K฿488.3K
-70.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7LBP 6.3M
$54.7฿1,787
29.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50LBP 4.1M
$26.77฿874
69.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122LBP 10.9M
$85.0฿2,776
43.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.2LBP 8.3M
$70.6฿2,306
32.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
5
123.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adma: May 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Adma vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $246, with Adma cheaper for home cooking.
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
Adma vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Adma?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,316 in Adma and $1,300 in Chiang Mai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $301 in Adma versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Adma or Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $60.0 in Adma. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $800 enough for either Adma or Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Adma or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Adma, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Adma or Chiang Mai?
Safety-wise, Adma 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Adma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.