😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,035 in Antakya versus $852 in Chiang Mai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Antakya versus $1,360 in Chiang Mai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,161 in Antakya versus $1,867 in Chiang Mai.
🌍Living in Antakya is roughly 21% more expensive than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Antakya22% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.41₺351
$2.04฿68.4
263.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.59₺1,449
$18.71฿626
63.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.02₺333
$7.86฿263
-10.69%
Cappuccino
$3.79₺180
$2.03฿67.9
86.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21₺57.4
$0.80฿26.71
51.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₺17.26
$0.35฿11.71
2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53₺167
$2.14฿71.7
64.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33₺158
$3.67฿123
-9.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₺49.59
$1.73฿57.8
-39.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44₺21.05
$1.57฿52.5
-71.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06₺97.4
$1.20฿40.10
71.67%
Eggs
$2.74₺130
$1.97฿66.0
39.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.43₺541
$16.23฿543
-29.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83₺229
$3.06฿102
57.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.80₺985
$10.80฿361
92.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₺57.5
$2.77฿92.6
-56.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00₺94.7
$1.17฿39.05
70.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07₺50.5
$1.71฿57.1
-37.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17₺55.3
$1.59฿53.3
-26.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80₺37.93
$1.39฿46.63
-42.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76₺36.13
$1.16฿38.67
-34.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₺31.59
$0.66฿22.11
1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36₺16.83
$0.52฿17.35
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12₺101
$4.65฿155
-54.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30₺393
$17.78฿595
-53.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56₺121
$1.79฿59.8
43.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62₺171
$3.34฿112
8.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67₺31.60
$0.91฿30.35
-26.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.88₺1,415
$18.64฿624
60.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06₺50.1
$1.41฿47.17
-24.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61₺29.03
$1.34฿44.82
-54.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77₺368
$8.11฿271
-4.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12₺52.8
$1.23฿41.27
-8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.5K₺2.1M
$21.4K฿717.0K
107.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K₺2.0M
$21.8K฿730.0K
97.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.6₺2,915
$71.3฿2,386
-13.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.75₺415
$14.01฿469
-37.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77₺416
$17.93฿600
-51.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.02₺2,085
$40.82฿1,365
7.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.47₺117
$5.72฿191
-56.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$622₺29.4K
$308฿10.3K
101.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,793₺416.5K
$14.7K฿491.0K
-40.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.88₺894
$55.8฿1,865
-66.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.88₺1,178
$26.04฿871
-4.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3₺3,659
$84.8฿2,837
-8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5₺2,440
$71.0฿2,375
-27.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$504₺23.9K
$423฿14.2K
19.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386₺18.3K
$242฿8,110
59.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$884₺41.9K
$797฿26.7K
10.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707₺33.5K
$507฿17.0K
39.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,181₺55.9K
$1,918฿64.2K
-38.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$967₺45.8K
$1,464฿49.0K
-33.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antakya
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$595฿19.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5
200.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Antakya: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $504 in Antakya and $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Antakya vs $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $244, with Antakya 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
Antakya vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antakya and in Chiang Mai?
Antakya and Chiang Mai differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,035 vs $852 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Antakya compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $1,552 in Antakya and $1,279 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Antakya and in Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $504 in Antakya versus $423 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Antakya pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $31.00 in Antakya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $1,035 in Antakya, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Antakya. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antakya and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Antakya or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antakya 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.
Where should expats move: Antakya or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Antakya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.