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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $523 in Amparai versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Amparai versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Amparai versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Amparai costs roughly 39% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 61% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 LKR 1,386

$1.96 ฿65.8

110.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.03 LKR 8,410

$18.35 ฿617

36.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.26 LKR 2,776

$7.48 ฿252

10.43%

Cappuccino

$2.68 LKR 899

$2.02 ฿67.8

32.67%

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

$0.69 LKR 233

$0.85 ฿28.50

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.36 ฿11.96

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 775

$2.14 ฿71.8

7.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,139

$3.59 ฿121

-5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.65 ฿55.5

3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$1.57 ฿52.7

-64.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 292

$1.19 ฿40.02

-26.89%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 748

$1.94 ฿65.1

14.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,695

$16.19 ฿544

-13.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$2.99 ฿101

57.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,647

$10.94 ฿368

-27.97%

Apples (1kg)

$7.70 LKR 2,589

$2.71 ฿91.2

184.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.17 ฿39.25

-5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,950

$1.69 ฿56.7

243.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 424

$1.60 ฿54.0

-21.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 370

$1.38 ฿46.54

-20.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$1.20 ฿40.45

13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$0.67 ฿22.50

76.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 202

$0.56 ฿18.73

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,357

$4.64 ฿156

115.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,271

$17.62 ฿593

-27.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 675

$1.86 ฿62.5

8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 989

$3.30 ฿111

-10.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.36 ฿45.90

-72.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$1.34 ฿44.98

-73.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 192

$8.21 ฿276

-93.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.22 ฿41.18

1.64%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

$21.4K ฿718.1K

27.04%

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

$35.5K LKR 11.9M

$22.5K ฿757.7K

57.40%

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

$59.5 LKR 20.0K

$70.7 ฿2,376

-15.85%

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

$4.31 LKR 1,448

$14.04 ฿472

-69.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 LKR 5,147

$17.49 ฿588

-12.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 LKR 671

$5.92 ฿199

-66.22%

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

$37.14 LKR 12.5K

$309 ฿10.4K

-87.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 149.1K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

-97.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.29 LKR 9,170

$55.8 ฿1,875

-51.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.07 LKR 6,407

$26.11 ฿878

-26.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.3K

$83.0 ฿2,792

-16.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.87 LKR 13.1K

$70.5 ฿2,369

-44.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$90.7 LKR 30.5K

$579 ฿19.5K

-84.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

229.00%

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

Last update for Amparai: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 539% 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: $25.00 in Amparai vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai 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

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

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 539% lower in Chiang Mai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.14 in Amparai versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Amparai – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Amparai 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, Amparai 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 Amparai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.