😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Adma versus $861 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Adma versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Adma versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Adma is roughly 4% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Adma33% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67LBP 954.5K
$1.96฿65.7
444.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2LBP 5.3M
$18.35฿616
222.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81LBP 699.0K
$7.48฿251
4.41%
Cappuccino
$3.23LBP 289.2K
$2.02฿67.7
59.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58LBP 141.0K
$0.85฿28.45
85.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93LBP 83.6K
$0.36฿11.94
158.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59LBP 321.1K
$2.14฿71.7
67.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99LBP 446.5K
$3.59฿121
39.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LBP 160.0K
$1.65฿55.4
8.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79LBP 70.6K
$1.57฿52.6
-49.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84LBP 164.7K
$1.19฿39.95
54.62%
Eggs
$3.09LBP 276.5K
$1.94฿65.0
59.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.48LBP 1.0M
$16.19฿544
-29.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.35LBP 837.2K
$2.99฿100
212.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.39LBP 1.0M
$10.94฿367
4.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79LBP 160.5K
$2.71฿91.0
-33.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47LBP 131.7K
$1.17฿39.18
25.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13LBP 101.4K
$1.69฿56.6
-33.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.0K
$1.60฿53.9
-31.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93LBP 83.2K
$1.38฿46.45
-32.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00LBP 89.6K
$1.20฿40.38
-16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81LBP 72.9K
$0.67฿22.46
20.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56LBP 49.9K
$0.56฿18.70
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53LBP 226.0K
$4.64฿156
-45.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.08LBP 902.0K
$17.62฿591
-42.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24LBP 110.5K
$1.86฿62.4
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14LBP 191.8K
$3.30฿111
-35.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.99LBP 446.3K
$1.36฿45.82
266.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22LBP 109.6K
$1.34฿44.90
-8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.09LBP 1.8M
$8.21฿276
144.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95LBP 85.1K
$1.22฿41.11
-22.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KLBP 3.1B
$21.4K฿716.8K
63.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KLBP 2.5B
$22.5K฿756.3K
25.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217LBP 19.4M
$70.7฿2,372
207.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.98LBP 3.3M
$14.04฿471
163.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.94LBP 3.3M
$17.49฿587
111.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$42.15฿1,415
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.86LBP 703.9K
$5.92฿199
32.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307LBP 27.5M
$309฿10.4K
-0.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,491LBP 402.0M
$14.9K฿499.5K
-69.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5LBP 6.4M
$55.8฿1,872
28.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.93LBP 4.0M
$26.11฿877
72.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120LBP 10.8M
$83.0฿2,787
45.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0LBP 8.4M
$70.5฿2,365
33.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,020
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adma
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Adma vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $243, 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,337 in Adma and $1,292 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 $307 in Adma versus $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $59.0 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 4% less than in Adma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.