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: $529 in Amparai versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $856 in Amparai versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Amparai versus $1,835 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 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,344

$1.94 ฿63.5

108.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.62 LKR 8,164

$18.64 ฿609

32.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 LKR 2,698

$7.82 ฿255

4.09%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 881

$1.95 ฿63.8

36.41%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$0.85 ฿27.77

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.35 ฿11.58

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 765

$2.13 ฿69.6

8.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

$3.73 ฿122

-8.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 573

$1.71 ฿56.0

1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 171

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 290

$1.14 ฿37.15

-22.81%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 733

$1.93 ฿63.1

14.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.24 LKR 4,721

$16.21 ฿530

-12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 LKR 1,531

$3.12 ฿102

48.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,703

$10.90 ฿356

-25.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 LKR 2,474

$2.75 ฿90.0

171.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 365

$1.21 ฿39.52

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,910

$1.62 ฿53.0

255.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 413

$1.59 ฿51.8

-21.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.40 ฿45.70

-17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 457

$1.17 ฿38.17

17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.66 ฿21.60

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 198

$0.53 ฿17.22

13.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 LKR 3,367

$4.69 ฿153

116.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,214

$18.66 ฿609

-31.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 660

$1.80 ฿58.8

10.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 952

$3.23 ฿106

-11.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$1.41 ฿45.91

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$1.29 ฿42.12

-72.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

$7.84 ฿256

-92.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 403

$1.27 ฿41.58

-4.72%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

26.92%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

56.01%

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

$59.3 LKR 19.7K

$69.1 ฿2,256

-14.13%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,417

$14.08 ฿460

-69.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.32 LKR 5,078

$18.00 ฿588

-14.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 LKR 655

$5.92 ฿193

-66.72%

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

$36.57 LKR 12.1K

$299 ฿9,766

-87.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 146.9K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-97.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.17 LKR 9,007

$54.7 ฿1,787

-50.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.37 LKR 6,422

$26.77 ฿874

-27.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 LKR 23.3K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-17.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.41 LKR 13.1K

$70.6 ฿2,306

-44.18%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$88.9 LKR 29.5K

$617 ฿20.2K

-85.61%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 595% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $246 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 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Chiang Mai earns 595% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.57 in Amparai versus $299 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 $19.00 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 64% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.