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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Assela versus $861 in Chiang Mai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Assela versus $1,350 in Chiang Mai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Assela versus $1,838 in Chiang Mai.

Living in Assela costs roughly 5% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Assela 39% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ETB 727

$1.96 ฿65.7

134.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ETB 5,599

$18.35 ฿616

92.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ETB 1,036

$7.48 ฿251

-12.57%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 205

$2.02 ฿67.7

-35.64%

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

$0.69 ETB 110

$0.85 ฿28.45

-18.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 74.2

$0.36 ฿11.94

30.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ETB 160

$2.14 ฿71.7

-52.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ETB 488

$3.59 ฿121

-14.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 219

$1.65 ฿55.4

-16.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 210

$1.57 ฿52.6

-15.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$1.19 ฿39.95

78.15%

Eggs

$2.49 ETB 395

$1.94 ฿65.0

28.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ETB 1,106

$16.19 ฿544

-56.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 ETB 2,166

$2.99 ฿100

357.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 ETB 2,087

$10.94 ฿367

20.38%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 ETB 1,064

$2.71 ฿91.0

147.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 161

$1.17 ฿39.18

-12.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ETB 360

$1.69 ฿56.6

34.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.60 ฿53.9

-38.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$1.38 ฿46.45

-50.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ETB 304

$1.20 ฿40.38

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.67 ฿22.46

2.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.56 ฿18.70

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ETB 626

$4.64 ฿156

-14.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 897

$17.62 ฿591

-67.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.86 ฿62.4

-46.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 291

$3.30 ฿111

-44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

$1.36 ฿45.82

4.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.54

$1.34 ฿44.90

-78.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 325

$8.21 ฿276

-75.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 206

$1.22 ฿41.11

6.56%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

$21.4K ฿716.8K

152.90%

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

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

138.88%

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

$157 ETB 24.9K

$70.7 ฿2,372

122.20%

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

$12.04 ETB 1,909

$14.04 ฿471

-14.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

$17.49 ฿587

638.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ETB 914

$5.92 ฿199

-2.70%

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

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

$309 ฿10.4K

-74.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

$14.9K ฿499.5K

167.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 ETB 7,409

$55.8 ฿1,872

-16.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

$26.11 ฿877

183.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

$83.0 ฿2,787

13.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.8K

$70.5 ฿2,365

59.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

240.00%

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

Last update for Assela: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Assela vs $18.00 in Chiang Mai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $243 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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

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

Assela is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,225 in Assela and $1,292 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.

Childcare runs $80.2 in Assela versus $309 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Assela – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Assela gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Assela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Assela 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 Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.