🙂A single person spends $511 per month in Az-zabadani vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $808 per month in Az-zabadani vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Az-zabadani vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Az-zabadani is about 41% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Az-zabadani and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Az-zabadani62% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08SYP 672
$1.98฿64.3
207.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.76SYP 3,068
$18.80฿612
47.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.37SYP 593
$7.75฿252
-30.71%
Cappuccino
$1.54SYP 170
$1.92฿62.5
-19.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14SYP 126
$0.79฿25.79
44.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68SYP 74.9
$0.36฿11.62
88.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56SYP 173
$2.21฿72.1
-29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53SYP 279
$3.66฿119
-30.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98SYP 108
$1.65฿53.8
-40.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62SYP 68.8
$1.63฿53.2
-61.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67SYP 185
$1.19฿38.86
40.34%
Eggs
$1.88SYP 208
$2.00฿65.1
-6.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.15SYP 348
$15.98฿520
-80.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.61SYP 840
$3.03฿98.5
151.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.22SYP 1,240
$10.86฿354
3.31%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86SYP 94.9
$2.76฿90.0
-68.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74SYP 192
$1.18฿38.42
47.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00SYP 110
$1.64฿53.5
-39.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93SYP 103
$1.52฿49.51
-38.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.62SYP 68.4
$1.38฿45.10
-55.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65SYP 72.4
$1.19฿38.84
-45.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38SYP 41.53
$0.70฿22.86
-45.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SYP 64.2
$0.56฿18.13
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04SYP 336
$4.58฿149
-33.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.87SYP 648
$16.56฿539
-64.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97SYP 107
$1.83฿59.5
-46.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SYP 195
$3.20฿104
-44.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98SYP 108
$1.36฿44.16
-27.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SYP 134
$1.34฿43.65
-8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50SYP 719
$7.84฿256
-17.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.59SYP 397
$1.23฿39.92
191.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5KSYP 2.0M
$21.6K฿704.3K
-14.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSYP 2.4M
$22.5K฿734.3K
-5.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SYP 11.1K
$70.5฿2,298
42.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50SYP 940
$13.68฿445
-37.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4SYP 6,007
$17.45฿568
211.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.96SYP 328
$5.77฿188
-48.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.01SYP 4,752
$307฿10.0K
-85.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,806SYP 199.6K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-87.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.35SYP 3,243
$55.8฿1,817
-47.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51SYP 2,819
$26.21฿854
-2.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.18SYP 4,882
$85.8฿2,793
-48.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5SYP 6,131
$72.2฿2,353
-23.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az-zabadani
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Az-zabadani: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Az-zabadani vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Az-zabadani wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Az-zabadani vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Az-zabadani or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 70% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Az-zabadani vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $766 per month in Az-zabadani and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Az-zabadani vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Az-zabadani and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Az-zabadani or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 45% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Az-zabadani or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $511 in Az-zabadani and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Az-zabadani or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $511 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Az-zabadani compared to 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.
Should I move to Az-zabadani or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Az-zabadani. 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.
Az-zabadani vs other spots: cost of living compared