🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Avaré versus $845 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,247 in Avaré versus $1,323 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,742 in Avaré versus $1,802 in Chiang Mai.
🙂Living in Avaré costs roughly 11% less than in Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Avaré44% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58R$17.79
$1.95฿62.8
83.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.84R$198
$18.43฿594
116.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.37R$21.71
$7.50฿241
-41.73%
Cappuccino
$1.85R$9.20
$1.93฿62.3
-4.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.81
$0.78฿25.08
-26.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35R$1.74
$0.32฿10.42
9.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28R$6.37
$2.15฿69.2
-40.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76R$8.75
$3.71฿120
-52.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.22
$1.71฿55.2
-38.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83R$9.09
$1.56฿50.3
17.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30R$6.45
$1.18฿38.06
10.17%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.58
$1.98฿63.9
-2.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20R$35.76
$16.04฿517
-55.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98R$14.82
$3.17฿102
-5.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.18R$30.72
$10.94฿353
-43.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82R$14.02
$2.63฿84.7
7.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92R$9.54
$1.17฿37.61
64.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68R$8.36
$1.65฿53.0
1.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77R$8.81
$1.54฿49.51
14.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10R$5.48
$1.38฿44.34
-20.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R$6.14
$1.17฿37.54
5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01R$5.00
$0.66฿21.25
53.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56R$2.77
$0.51฿16.55
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54R$12.62
$4.52฿146
-43.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.08R$50.1
$18.32฿590
-44.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84R$4.19
$1.80฿57.9
-53.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35R$11.70
$3.18฿102
-26.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.60
$0.90฿28.97
3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.14R$195
$19.00฿612
106.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.49
$1.41฿45.50
-21.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75R$3.73
$1.31฿42.15
-42.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.32R$46.34
$8.09฿261
15.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03R$5.12
$1.28฿41.08
-19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KR$106.8K
$21.3K฿686.1K
0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KR$114.2K
$21.7K฿699.3K
5.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.43R$226
$69.2฿2,230
-34.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.81R$43.78
$13.97฿450
-36.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.12R$90.1
$17.95฿578
0.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.90R$114
$42.31฿1,363
-45.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.90R$109
$6.66฿214
228.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.76R$23.64
$5.92฿191
-19.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$505R$2,510
$299฿9,640
68.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KR$75.8K
$14.8K฿478.4K
2.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4R$255
$56.2฿1,810
-8.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06R$209
$26.94฿868
56.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.9R$392
$84.9฿2,735
-7.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4R$370
$71.8฿2,314
3.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320R$1,589
$435฿14.0K
-26.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215R$1,071
$240฿7,727
-10.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592R$2,944
$798฿25.7K
-25.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,096
$498฿16.1K
-15.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,636R$8,132
$1,995฿64.3K
-17.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,078R$5,359
$1,532฿49.4K
-29.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Avaré
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$628฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.56
5
131.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Avaré: April 22, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Avaré and $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40 in Avaré vs $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $244, with Avaré 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
Avaré vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Avaré and Chiang Mai?
Avaré and Chiang Mai differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($751 vs $845 including rent). Avaré is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Avaré compared to Chiang Mai?
You'd need roughly $1,127 in Avaré 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Avaré and Chiang Mai?
Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Avaré versus $435 in Chiang Mai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Avaré and Chiang Mai?
A monthly transit pass in Avaré runs roughly 106% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Avaré and Chiang Mai?
Childcare runs $505 in Avaré versus $299 in Chiang Mai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Avaré vs Chiang Mai?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Avaré gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Avaré and Chiang Mai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Avaré or Chiang Mai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Avaré 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.
Where should expats move: Avaré or Chiang Mai?
Expats usually find Avaré gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.