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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,460 per month in Arklow vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,534 per month in Arklow vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,607 per month in Arklow vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Arklow costs about 184% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Arklow sits 84% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.69 €15.22

$1.94 ฿63.5

811.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 €58.8

$18.64 ฿609

266.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.02 €9.48

$7.82 ฿255

40.92%

Cappuccino

$4.31 €3.71

$1.95 ฿63.8

121.03%

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

$2.89 €2.49

$0.85 ฿27.77

240.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 €1.94

$0.35 ฿11.58

545.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 €5.22

$2.13 ฿69.6

184.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 €4.05

$3.73 ฿122

26.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 €1.36

$1.71 ฿56.0

-7.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 €1.82

$1.63 ฿53.2

29.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 €0.84

$1.14 ฿37.15

-14.91%

Eggs

$4.22 €3.63

$1.93 ฿63.1

118.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 €6.04

$16.21 ฿530

-56.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 €7.24

$3.12 ฿102

169.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 €7.35

$10.90 ฿356

-21.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 €1.52

$2.75 ฿90.0

-35.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 €1.30

$1.21 ฿39.52

24.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 €1.76

$1.62 ฿53.0

26.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

$1.59 ฿51.8

65.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 €2.28

$1.40 ฿45.70

89.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$1.17 ฿38.17

29.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 €1.01

$0.66 ฿21.60

78.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 €1.81

$0.53 ฿17.22

296.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.32 €16.62

$4.69 ฿153

311.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.74 €11.82

$18.66 ฿609

-26.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.72 €3.20

$1.80 ฿58.8

106.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 €3.19

$3.23 ฿106

14.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$0.90 ฿29.26

163.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100.0 €86.0

$19.21 ฿628

420.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 €4.51

$1.41 ฿45.91

271.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 €2.32

$1.29 ฿42.12

109.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.53 €30.56

$7.84 ฿256

353.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 €1.74

$1.27 ฿41.58

59.84%

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

$41.9K €36.1K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

96.97%

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

$39.3K €33.8K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

76.81%

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

$241 €207

$69.1 ฿2,256

248.21%

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

$21.52 €18.51

$14.08 ฿460

52.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.00 €42.15

$18.00 ฿588

172.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.66 €39.28

$41.06 ฿1,341

11.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 €11.96

$5.92 ฿193

134.97%

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

$1,361 €1,170

$299 ฿9,766

355.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,325 €6,301

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-51.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.9

$54.7 ฿1,787

86.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.56 €41.77

$26.77 ฿874

81.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €86.9

$85.0 ฿2,776

18.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 €98.0

$70.6 ฿2,306

61.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 €1,247

$428 ฿14.0K

238.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 €1,068

$237 ฿7,752

423.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,374 €2,042

$801 ฿26.2K

196.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 €1,708

$515 ฿16.8K

285.28%

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)

$4,997 €4,298

$617 ฿20.2K

709.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

-8.00%

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

Last update for Arklow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,449 in Arklow versus $428 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.

Salaries run about 709% higher in Arklow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Arklow versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,460 in Arklow, $866 in Chiang Mai – roughly 184% apart. Arklow costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,691 per month in Arklow and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,460 in Arklow and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 420% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Arklow at $2,460. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Arklow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $2,460 in Arklow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arklow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.