😐A single person spends $1,574 per month in Adra vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,330 per month in Adra vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,086 per month in Adra vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Adra costs about 69% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Adra sits 15% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.52€15.25
$2.08฿69.3
742.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9€61.7
$19.61฿653
261.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.77€10.25
$5.67฿189
107.58%
Cappuccino
$2.31€2.01
$1.81฿60.1
27.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.92
$0.77฿25.58
187.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.27
$0.35฿11.49
317.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.95
$2.21฿73.7
53.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.11
$3.79฿126
-5.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$2.05฿68.2
-42.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.55
$1.51฿50.4
17.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78€0.68
$1.40฿46.57
-44.29%
Eggs
$2.87€2.50
$2.26฿75.2
26.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.89€12.09
$16.19฿539
-14.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95€2.56
$2.90฿96.4
1.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77€10.24
$9.42฿314
24.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$2.68฿89.2
2.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$1.09฿36.28
8.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.62
$1.62฿53.8
14.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.79€2.43
$1.46฿48.61
91.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.67
$1.28฿42.54
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18€1.90
$1.06฿35.21
105.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29€1.12
$0.72฿23.88
79.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.64
$0.53฿17.51
39.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.73
$4.23฿141
55.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.79€4.17
$18.29฿609
-73.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.62
$1.63฿54.3
-56.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.65
$2.90฿96.6
-34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.43
$0.88฿29.24
86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.29€29.85
$53.8฿1,790
-36.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12€2.72
$1.17฿39.04
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35€1.18
$0.58฿19.25
132.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.18€14.96
$2.39฿79.4
618.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.49
$1.45฿48.28
18.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K€17.5K
$21.0K฿699.5K
-4.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K€26.2K
$26.4K฿879.7K
14.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€121
$63.7฿2,119
117.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.77€17.20
$12.89฿429
53.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.55€20.50
$20.52฿683
14.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.26€39.40
$39.02฿1,299
15.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62€14.47
$3.92฿130
323.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.29
$6.58฿219
44.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$733€638
$784฿26.1K
-6.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,785€8,517
$14.7K฿488.4K
-33.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8€72.0
$55.1฿1,835
50.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€30.09
$24.74฿824
39.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.6€44.90
$94.1฿3,133
-45.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8€72.0
$74.0฿2,462
11.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938€817
$490฿16.3K
91.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$714€621
$288฿9,594
147.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,376€1,198
$891฿29.7K
54.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,054€917
$521฿17.3K
102.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,472€3,022
$1,974฿65.7K
75.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,305€2,006
$1,444฿48.1K
59.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,318€2,018
$602฿20.0K
285.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.99
5.57
-46.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adra: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Adra versus $490 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 285% higher in Adra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Adra versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Adra vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Adra 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
Adra vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Adra or Chiang Mai?
Adra costs about 69% 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 Adra and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,362 per month in Adra and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Adra 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 dining costs compare in Adra and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Adra and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Adra compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,574 in Adra and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Adra or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Adra at $1,574. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Adra or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,574 in Adra. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Adra 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 Adra or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Adra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.