😐A single person spends $1,862 per month in Ayr, South Ayrshire vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Ayr, South Ayrshire vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,717 per month in Ayr, South Ayrshire vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Ayr, South Ayrshire costs about 100% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ayr, South Ayrshire sits 36% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.33£15.93
$2.08฿69.3
925.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4£61.6
$19.61฿653
320.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.67£7.97
$5.67฿189
88.18%
Cappuccino
$4.54£3.39
$1.81฿60.1
150.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22£1.66
$0.77฿25.58
188.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38£1.03
$0.35฿11.49
294.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.38£4.02
$2.21฿73.7
143.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11£4.56
$3.79฿126
61.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13£0.84
$2.05฿68.2
-44.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78£1.33
$1.51฿50.4
17.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.68£0.51
$1.40฿46.57
-51.43%
Eggs
$2.67£1.99
$2.26฿75.2
18.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.55£5.63
$16.19฿539
-53.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87£5.87
$2.90฿96.4
171.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18£9.84
$9.42฿314
39.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42£1.81
$2.68฿89.2
-9.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23£0.92
$1.09฿36.28
12.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.12
$1.62฿53.8
75.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80£2.09
$1.46฿48.61
91.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99£0.74
$1.28฿42.54
-22.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37£1.02
$1.06฿35.21
29.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98£0.73
$0.72฿23.88
36.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34£1.00
$0.53฿17.51
152.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.72£17.71
$4.23฿141
460.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.08£9.02
$18.29฿609
-33.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29£2.45
$1.63฿54.3
101.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36£2.51
$2.90฿96.6
15.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.55£2.65
$0.88฿29.24
303.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,790
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60£3.43
$1.17฿39.04
293.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.82£2.85
$0.58฿19.25
558.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.73£19.96
$2.39฿79.4
1018.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.43
$1.45฿48.28
31.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.4K£29.4K
$21.0K฿699.5K
87.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K£26.4K
$26.4K฿879.7K
33.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243£182
$63.7฿2,119
282.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.51£10.09
$12.89฿429
4.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.22£23.31
$20.52฿683
52.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.99£30.61
$39.02฿1,299
5.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.44£10.03
$6.58฿219
104.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,943£1,451
$784฿26.1K
147.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7K฿488.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100£74.7
$55.1฿1,835
81.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6£42.23
$24.74฿824
128.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126£93.9
$94.1฿3,133
33.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5£66.8
$74.0฿2,462
20.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$753£562
$490฿16.3K
53.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$705£527
$288฿9,594
144.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,141£852
$891฿29.7K
28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,179£880
$521฿17.3K
126.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ayr, South Ayrshire
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,249£2,426
$602฿20.0K
440.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
5.57
-19.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ayr, South Ayrshire: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $753 in Ayr, South Ayrshire versus $490 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 440% higher in Ayr, South Ayrshire, 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 $82.0 in Ayr, South Ayrshire versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $241 – 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
Ayr, South Ayrshire vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiang Mai cheaper than Ayr, South Ayrshire?
Yes – Ayr, South Ayrshire is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,793 per month in Ayr, South Ayrshire and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Ayr, South Ayrshire and in Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,862 in Ayr, South Ayrshire and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,943 per month in Ayr, South Ayrshire and $784 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ayr, South Ayrshire or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Ayr, South Ayrshire at $1,862. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ayr, South Ayrshire it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ayr, South Ayrshire or Chiang Mai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ayr, South Ayrshire 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ayr, South Ayrshire makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ayr, South Ayrshire vs other spots: cost of living compared