ðA single person spends $1,516 per month in Adra vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,202 per month in Adra vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $2,889 per month in Adra vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðAdra costs about 78% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðAdra sits 13% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04âŽ14.58
$1.96āļŋ64.0
769.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7âŽ50.2
$18.81āļŋ615
211.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62âŽ9.09
$7.92āļŋ259
34.09%
Cappuccino
$2.08âŽ1.78
$1.91āļŋ62.6
8.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37âŽ2.03
$0.84āļŋ27.41
182.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48âŽ1.26
$0.35āļŋ11.51
322.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81âŽ2.41
$2.21āļŋ72.1
27.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42âŽ2.93
$3.80āļŋ124
-10.00%
ð Groceries & Markets
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32âŽ1.13
$1.64āļŋ53.5
-19.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74âŽ1.49
$1.62āļŋ53.1
7.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77âŽ0.66
$1.18āļŋ38.62
-34.75%
Eggs
$2.80âŽ2.39
$2.01āļŋ65.8
39.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51âŽ9.85
$15.89āļŋ520
-27.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90âŽ2.48
$3.01āļŋ98.5
-3.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55âŽ9.89
$10.77āļŋ352
7.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48âŽ2.12
$2.61āļŋ85.5
-4.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15âŽ0.98
$1.22āļŋ39.88
-5.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39âŽ1.19
$1.70āļŋ55.7
-18.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35âŽ2.01
$1.58āļŋ51.5
48.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65âŽ1.41
$1.32āļŋ43.14
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66âŽ1.43
$1.17āļŋ38.23
41.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08âŽ0.93
$0.67āļŋ21.98
61.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65âŽ0.56
$0.56āļŋ18.32
16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26âŽ5.36
$4.53āļŋ148
38.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.74âŽ4.06
$18.20āļŋ595
-73.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.65âŽ0.56
$1.83āļŋ60.0
-64.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87âŽ1.60
$3.23āļŋ106
-42.11%
ð Getting Around
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63âŽ1.40
$0.89āļŋ29.00
83.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.72âŽ29.72
$19.38āļŋ634
79.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.64âŽ1.40
$1.35āļŋ44.20
21.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22âŽ1.04
$1.35āļŋ44.05
-9.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.49âŽ14.97
$8.25āļŋ270
112.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80âŽ1.54
$1.27āļŋ41.64
41.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KâŽ17.1K
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
-5.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KâŽ25.6K
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
33.04%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128âŽ110
$70.2āļŋ2,294
82.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.69âŽ17.71
$13.77āļŋ450
50.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.57âŽ20.18
$17.60āļŋ575
33.92%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06âŽ41.14
$41.57āļŋ1,360
15.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.16âŽ12.98
$6.60āļŋ216
129.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.73âŽ8.33
$5.78āļŋ189
68.34%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$724âŽ620
$306āļŋ10.0K
136.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KâŽ9,183
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
-27.64%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6âŽ59.5
$54.4āļŋ1,778
27.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.62âŽ27.06
$26.14āļŋ855
20.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.0âŽ45.35
$84.5āļŋ2,764
-37.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4âŽ70.5
$69.4āļŋ2,270
18.65%
ð Accommodation & Living
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$850âŽ728
$424āļŋ13.9K
100.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697âŽ597
$238āļŋ7,788
192.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,308âŽ1,120
$825āļŋ27.0K
58.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,017âŽ870
$515āļŋ16.8K
97.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,813âŽ3,264
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
86.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,016âŽ1,726
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
32.39%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Adra
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,401âŽ2,056
$635āļŋ20.8K
278.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.58
5
-28.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adra: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $850 in Adra versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 278% higher in Adra, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Adra versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story â $202 in Adra vs $243 in Chiang Mai â 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 78% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,274 per month in Adra and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Adra and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ 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 $1,516 in Adra and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Adra or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Adra at $1,516. 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 $852 versus $1,516 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Adra or 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.