Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Abadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $536 in Abadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $836 in Abadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,135 in Abadan.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 62% more expensive than Abadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Abadan 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.02 $4.02

-51.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$16.96 $16.96

9.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$4.59 $4.59

70.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 $0.66

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.10 $1.10

77.27%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.42 $0.42

102.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.94 $0.94

-62.77%

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

$1.03 $1.03

66.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.52 $0.52

213.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.93 $1.93

-40.93%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.13 $1.13

70.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$3.50 $3.50

363.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.17 $3.17

-1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.03 $10.03

8.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.92 $0.92

198.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.37 $1.37

-11.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.83 $0.83

95.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.57 $0.57

178.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.48 $0.48

191.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.49 $0.49

138.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.55 $0.55

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.25 $0.25

112.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.52 $0.52

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.17 $2.17

116.13%

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

$0.22 $0.22

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.08 $10.08

90.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.34 $0.34

314.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.29 $0.29

344.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.98 $1.98

295.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.73 $0.73

73.97%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$71.7K $71.7K

-70.31%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$55.6K $55.6K

-60.09%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$16.05 $16.05

330.34%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$2.12 $2.12

564.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$5.90 $5.90

205.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$16.08 $16.08

155.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.56 $12.56

-44.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$1.52 $1.52

289.47%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$115 $115

160.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$1,968 $1,968

659.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$22.66 $22.66

141.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.53 $24.53

9.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$109 $109

-21.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$71.2 $71.2

-0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$288 $288

48.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$203 $203

16.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$628 $628

27.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$323 $323

59.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$710 $710

178.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,055 $1,055

39.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$453 $453

36.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.24

-77.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abadan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $288 in Abadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $17.00 in Abadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $111 per month, with Abadan cheaper across the board.

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 Abadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 36% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $288 in Abadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $536 in Abadan – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Abadan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Abadan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Abadan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.