Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'amran Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and 'amran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $532 in 'amran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $912 in 'amran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,291 in 'amran, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 63% more than 'amran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and 'amran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, 'amran 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.40 YER 2,955

-84.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.34 YER 5,800

-23.42%

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

$0.40 YER 94.7

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 YER 240

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.99 YER 474

-42.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.65 YER 632

-27.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$16.39 YER 3,905

-33.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$4.07 YER 971

-32.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$4.14 YER 987

-60.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.18 YER 996

-61.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.04 YER 486

-31.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.07 YER 494

-43.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.39 YER 93.6

35.90%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.38 YER 806

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.07 YER 731

52.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

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)

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$30.27 YER 7,215

-53.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$48.83 YER 11.6K

-63.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$56.4 YER 13.4K

-27.21%

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

$616 YER 146.9K

2325.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$81.1 YER 19.3K

-32.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$57.2 YER 13.6K

-53.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$123 YER 29.3K

-30.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$48.59 YER 11.6K

45.30%

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 Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'amran: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in 'amran. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $151 in 'amran – so 'amran wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai vs 'amran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $532 in 'amran – roughly 63% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $798 in 'amran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $24.00 in 'amran. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $532 in 'amran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $532 in 'amran, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $532 in 'amran to $866 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with 'amran. 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.