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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Apia versus $845 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,533 in Apia versus $1,323 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,066 in Apia versus $1,802 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Apia is roughly 18% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Apia 25% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$53.0 WST 143

$1.95 ฿62.8

2620.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.10 WST 97.5

$18.43 ฿594

95.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.95 WST 37.67

$7.50 ฿241

86.00%

Cappuccino

$2.49 WST 6.73

$1.93 ฿62.3

29.02%

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

$1.99 WST 5.37

$0.78 ฿25.08

155.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 WST 3.56

$0.32 ฿10.42

312.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 WST 11.39

$2.15 ฿69.2

96.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 WST 9.45

$3.71 ฿120

-5.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 WST 4.74

$1.71 ฿55.2

2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 WST 2.24

$1.56 ฿50.3

-46.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 WST 4.72

$1.18 ฿38.06

48.31%

Eggs

$4.27 WST 11.54

$1.98 ฿63.9

115.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$0.88 WST 2.37

$16.04 ฿517

-94.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 WST 9.36

$3.17 ฿102

9.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.08 WST 21.82

$10.94 ฿353

-26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 WST 13.72

$2.63 ฿84.7

93.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 WST 4.94

$1.17 ฿37.61

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 WST 4.90

$1.65 ฿53.0

10.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.33 WST 11.70

$1.54 ฿49.51

181.17%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 WST 9.54

$1.38 ฿44.34

155.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 WST 2.84

$1.17 ฿37.54

-10.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 WST 3.15

$0.51 ฿16.55

129.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 WST 16.65

$4.52 ฿146

36.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.57 WST 44.73

$18.32 ฿590

-9.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 WST 4.78

$1.80 ฿57.9

-1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 WST 9.48

$3.18 ฿102

10.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.52 WST 9.50

$0.90 ฿28.97

291.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.40 WST 14.58

$1.41 ฿45.50

282.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.45 WST 57.9

$8.09 ฿261

165.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 WST 2.82

$1.28 ฿41.08

-18.75%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

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

$17.54 WST 47.35

$69.2 ฿2,230

-74.65%

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

$17.72 WST 47.85

$13.97 ฿450

26.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.20 WST 95.0

$17.95 ฿578

96.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.68 WST 134

$56.2 ฿1,810

-11.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 WST 108

$26.94 ฿868

49.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 WST 205

$84.9 ฿2,735

-10.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 WST 267

$71.8 ฿2,314

37.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 WST 4,959

$498 ฿16.1K

268.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Apia: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Apia and $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36 in Apia vs $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $244, with Apia 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

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

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Apia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,499 in Apia and $1,267 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.

All in, you'll spend $1,000 per month in Apia versus $845 in Chiang Mai – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Apia pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $845 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Apia 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Apia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.