😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $662 in Abasha, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,114 in Abasha, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,566 in Abasha, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Abasha, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Abasha are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Abasha51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$10.80₾28.69
-82.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$44.08₾117
-57.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$8.18₾21.74
-4.40%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$3.13₾8.31
-37.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.79₾2.11
7.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.42₾1.12
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$2.17₾5.77
-1.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$2.87₾7.64
29.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.97₾5.25
-13.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.72₾1.92
126.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.89₾5.01
-39.68%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$2.57₾6.82
-24.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$7.48₾19.87
116.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$6.49₾17.24
-51.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$9.60₾25.52
13.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.21₾3.21
127.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.63₾4.33
-25.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.84₾4.89
-11.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$2.27₾6.04
-29.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.71₾1.89
97.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.64₾1.69
82.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$1.22₾3.24
-45.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.71₾1.89
-25.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$3.03₾8.06
54.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$7.47₾19.86
149.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.60₾4.25
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.22₾5.89
45.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
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
$1.42₾3.78
-0.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.74₾1.96
74.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$7.27₾19.33
7.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.10₾2.91
15.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$18.0K₾47.8K
18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$20.0K₾53.1K
11.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$74.5₾198
-7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$11.98₾31.84
17.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$17.99₾47.81
0.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$6.69₾17.77
-11.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$269₾714
11.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$5,075₾13.5K
194.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$75.6₾201
-27.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$43.47₾116
-38.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$121₾321
-29.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$113₾300
-37.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Abasha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$354₾941
74.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.89
-57.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Abasha: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 74% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Abasha. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $207 in Abasha – so Abasha 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 Abasha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chiang Mai and Abasha compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $662 in Abasha – roughly 31% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chiang Mai compared to Abasha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $993 in Abasha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Abasha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $662 in Abasha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Chiang Mai and Abasha?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $269 in Abasha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Chiang Mai vs Abasha?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $662 in Abasha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Abasha?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $662 in Abasha to $866 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Chiang Mai or Abasha safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Chiang Mai and Abasha?
If budget matters most, go with Abasha. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared