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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,063 in Arue versus $866 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Arue versus $1,351 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,039 in Arue versus $1,835 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Arue is roughly 23% more expensive than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arue 21% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 CFPF 143

$1.71 ฿56.0

-18.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 CFPF 506

$1.63 ฿53.2

204.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 CFPF 391

$1.14 ฿37.15

235.09%

Eggs

$11.58 CFPF 1,183

$1.93 ฿63.1

500.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$57.7 CFPF 5,895

$16.21 ฿530

256.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$27.32 CFPF 2,790

$3.12 ฿102

775.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.66 CFPF 2,519

$10.90 ฿356

126.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 CFPF 539

$2.75 ฿90.0

91.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 CFPF 304

$1.21 ฿39.52

145.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.99 CFPF 816

$1.62 ฿53.0

393.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.66 CFPF 885

$1.59 ฿51.8

444.65%

Potato (1kg)

$4.34 CFPF 444

$1.40 ฿45.70

210.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 CFPF 295

$1.17 ฿38.17

147.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.80 CFPF 388

$0.66 ฿21.60

475.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 CFPF 151

$0.53 ฿17.22

179.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 CFPF 1,233

$4.69 ฿153

157.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$29.51 CFPF 3,015

$18.66 ฿609

58.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 CFPF 301

$1.80 ฿58.8

63.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.99 CFPF 816

$3.23 ฿106

147.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$167 CFPF 17.1K

$69.1 ฿2,256

142.06%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 CFPF 12.7K

$18.00 ฿588

588.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

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)

$617 ฿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 Arue: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 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

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

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Arue. 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 $1,594 in Arue and $1,300 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 212% higher in Arue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,063 per month in Arue versus $866 in Chiang Mai – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 $866 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Arue 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 23% less than in Arue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.