🙂A single person spends $207 per month in Arsuk vs $920 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $333 per month in Arsuk vs $1,408 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $459 per month in Arsuk vs $1,895 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Arsuk is about 78% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Arsuk and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Arsuk85% lower, Chiang Mai33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.99DKK 147
$2.11฿69.1
989.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.75฿648
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.85฿192
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.76฿57.8
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.74฿24.37
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.33฿10.90
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.47฿81.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.88฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89DKK 12.11
$1.90฿62.4
-0.53%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.67฿54.7
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.35฿44.24
-
Eggs
-
$2.14฿70.2
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.89฿521
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.83฿92.9
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.53฿345
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.38฿78.2
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.07฿35.01
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.52฿49.79
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.50฿49.30
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.28฿41.96
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.10฿36.17
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.69฿22.54
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49฿16.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27฿140
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.78฿550
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66฿54.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.81฿92.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$54.9฿1,801
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.20฿39.24
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.54฿17.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.37฿77.9
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.43฿46.88
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.1K฿691.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.1K฿890.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$64.7฿2,124
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.19฿433
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$19.44฿638
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.45฿1,294
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.77฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.62฿217
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$805฿26.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.1K฿496.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.8฿1,796
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$25.43฿834
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$91.9฿3,015
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.7฿2,449
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$467฿15.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$282฿9,251
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$891฿29.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$521฿17.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,985฿65.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,462฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arsuk
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$592฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.57
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arsuk: August 17, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026
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
Arsuk vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Arsuk?
Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 346%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $310 per month in Arsuk and $1,380 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Arsuk and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $207 in Arsuk and $920 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Arsuk and in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 1153% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Arsuk or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Arsuk, where all-in costs run around $207, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Arsuk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Arsuk or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Arsuk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Arsuk or Chiang Mai?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Arsuk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.