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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $731 in 'amran, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,142 in 'amran, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,554 in 'amran, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than 'amran, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and 'amran are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, 'amran 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$6.47 YER 1,530

-67.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$25.46 YER 6,027

-22.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$9.39 YER 2,224

-39.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 YER 468

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 YER 611

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$3.76 YER 889

-51.86%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$1.13 YER 268

-37.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.44 YER 103

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$2.00 YER 474

-2.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.03 YER 244

45.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.99 YER 472

-32.66%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.62 YER 620

-13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$17.12 YER 4,053

-5.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$8.38 YER 1,984

-64.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$16.60 YER 3,930

-40.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.29 YER 779

-21.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.02 YER 241

3.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.13 YER 504

-24.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.61 YER 380

-5.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$1.52 YER 359

-16.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$1.31 YER 311

-18.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.20 YER 285

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.43 YER 103

18.60%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.35 YER 792

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 YER 422

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 YER 782

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.14 YER 742

33.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$4.31 YER 1,021

-71.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$2.05 YER 485

-71.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$7.30 YER 1,728

-66.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$2.01 YER 476

-29.85%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$17.0K YER 4.0M

26.33%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$35.5K YER 8.4M

-23.10%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$108 YER 25.6K

-41.19%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$23.09 YER 5,465

-44.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$50.4 YER 11.9K

-59.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$58.6 YER 13.9K

-33.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$5.92 YER 1,400

13.85%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$115 YER 27.3K

573.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$633 YER 149.9K

2207.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$43.01 YER 10.2K

26.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$58.2 YER 13.8K

-56.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$48.05 YER 11.4K

96.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$40.08 YER 9,488

83.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.25

-50.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for 'amran: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in 'amran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $248 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $731 in 'amran – roughly 30% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,096 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in 'amran. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in 'amran, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In 'amran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $731 in 'amran to $947 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.