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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,424 in Aden, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,403 in Aden, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,382 in Aden, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 39% cheaper than Aden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Aden is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$13.43 YER 3,200

-85.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$35.93 YER 8,563

-47.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$10.08 YER 2,402

-23.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.33 YER 1,032

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 YER 902

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.84 YER 1,153

-60.33%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.08 YER 496

-62.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.80 YER 190

-55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$4.22 YER 1,006

-60.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.02 YER 482

-19.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$7.36 YER 1,754

-83.83%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$5.77 YER 1,374

-65.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$11.27 YER 2,686

41.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$16.70 YER 3,980

-81.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$38.67 YER 9,216

-71.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$9.11 YER 2,171

-69.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.64 YER 630

-55.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$8.03 YER 1,913

-79.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$3.51 YER 837

-56.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$3.51 YER 836

-60.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$3.21 YER 766

-62.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.71 YER 168

-1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.42 YER 338

-60.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 YER 159

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 YER 444

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.96 YER 1,181

-7.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.10 YER 262

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$41.23 YER 9,825

-54.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.61 YER 622

-47.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.03 YER 483

-33.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.49 YER 1,308

42.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$3.69 YER 880

-66.67%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$16.6K YER 4.0M

29.99%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$61.7K YER 14.7M

-63.43%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$79.5 YER 18.9K

-11.24%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$9.85 YER 2,348

38.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$56.6 YER 13.5K

-69.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$63.6 YER 15.2K

-35.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$26.92 YER 6,414

-74.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$5.63 YER 1,342

2.49%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$147 YER 35.1K

108.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$1,888 YER 450.0K

673.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$99.2 YER 23.6K

-43.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$105 YER 25.0K

-74.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$153 YER 36.5K

-44.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$183 YER 43.7K

-60.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$242 YER 57.7K

77.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$178 YER 42.5K

33.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$546 YER 130.1K

49.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$522 YER 124.5K

-2.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,257 YER 299.5K

57.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$843 YER 201.0K

75.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$464 YER 110.5K

33.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.67

-60.54%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Aden: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $242 in Aden. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Aden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $496 – 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 Aden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aden costs about 64% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,136 in Aden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $36.00 in Aden. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $1,424 in Aden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Aden at $1,424. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,424 in Aden. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.