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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Chiang Mai versus $975 in Adana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,332 in Chiang Mai versus $1,554 in Adana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,816 in Chiang Mai versus $2,132 in Adana.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 13% less than in Adana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 37% lower, Adana 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿68.4
$7.73 ₺366
-73.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71 ฿630
$34.55 ₺1,635
-45.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.84 ฿264
$7.39 ₺350
6.09%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ฿64.9
$2.67 ₺126
-27.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿28.00
$1.68 ₺79.7
-50.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.80
$0.52 ₺24.76
-32.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 ฿74.8
$4.00 ₺189
-44.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿128
$2.97 ₺140
27.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.4
$0.85 ₺40.30
94.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 ฿52.3
$0.48 ₺22.74
222.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿39.79
$1.97 ₺93.4
-40.10%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿67.9
$1.74 ₺82.5
15.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.16 ฿544
$11.14 ₺527
45.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿102
$4.82 ₺228
-37.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 ฿365
$19.10 ₺904
-43.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿90.3
$1.20 ₺56.8
123.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿41.14
$2.12 ₺100
-42.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.8
$1.07 ₺50.8
52.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.5
$1.21 ₺57.2
26.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿45.10
$0.80 ₺37.76
67.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿40.86
$0.48 ₺22.87
152.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.63
$1.25 ₺59.2
-44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.70
$0.21 ₺10.15
152.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿158
$2.13 ₺101
120.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.71 ฿597
$5.24 ₺248
237.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ฿62.2
$1.91 ₺90.6
-3.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿108
$2.37 ₺112
35.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿30.01
$0.59 ₺27.75
50.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.76 ฿632
$50.5 ₺2,391
-62.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿47.40
$1.00 ₺47.43
41.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿43.52
$0.65 ₺30.84
98.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.79 ฿262
$9.99 ₺473
-22.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿43.59
$1.22 ₺57.8
5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ฿733.4K
$21.3K ₺1.0M
2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K ฿730.7K
$44.3K ₺2.1M
-51.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.0 ฿2,358
$40.03 ₺1,895
74.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19 ฿478
$9.60 ₺454
47.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42 ฿587
$10.24 ₺485
70.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,403
$44.32 ₺2,097
-6.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89 ฿232
$25.51 ₺1,207
-72.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿195
$7.28 ₺345
-20.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 ฿10.1K
$1,260 ₺59.6K
-76.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K ฿489.2K
$10.0K ₺473.8K
45.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,865
$38.21 ₺1,808
44.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31 ฿886
$51.0 ₺2,412
-48.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 ฿2,858
$112 ₺5,312
-24.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,375
$126 ₺5,953
-43.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 ฿14.3K
$430 ₺20.3K
-1.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,919
$284 ₺13.4K
-17.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿27.0K
$724 ₺34.2K
10.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$516 ฿17.4K
$484 ₺22.9K
6.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,926 ฿64.9K
$715 ₺33.9K
169.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿48.9K
$448 ₺21.2K
224.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Adana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 ฿19.8K
$806 ₺38.1K
-27.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
37.2
-86.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Adana: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Chiang Mai and $430 in Adana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Adana pays 37% 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 $35.00 in Adana. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $208, with Adana cheaper for home cooking.

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 Adana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Adana?
Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Adana. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or in Adana?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Adana. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Adana?
Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Chiang Mai versus $430 in Adana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Adana?
Shoppers in Adana pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Adana?
Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $35.00 in Adana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Adana?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Adana?
Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $847 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Adana?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Adana are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Adana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities