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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,848 in Aden, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,973 in Aden, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,098 in Aden, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 49% cheaper than Aden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Aden is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$12.52 YER 2,965

-83.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$36.39 YER 8,616

-45.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$10.11 YER 2,393

-42.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 YER 854

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 YER 1,031

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$3.99 YER 945

-54.14%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$3.35 YER 793

-76.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$1.76 YER 417

-82.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$5.26 YER 1,246

-61.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$2.29 YER 541

-30.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$9.39 YER 2,223

-84.88%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$10.23 YER 2,423

-78.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$10.66 YER 2,523

49.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$20.73 YER 4,907

-85.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$56.0 YER 13.3K

-82.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$15.30 YER 3,622

-82.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$3.52 YER 834

-68.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$10.70 YER 2,532

-84.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.19 YER 991

-63.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$4.32 YER 1,022

-71.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$3.58 YER 848

-68.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$1.07 YER 253

-30.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$1.40 YER 332

-64.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$6.31 YER 1,493

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 YER 987

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$6.58 YER 1,559

-34.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

$1.04 YER 245

-9.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

$93.5 YER 22.1K

-40.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$3.42 YER 809

-64.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$8.55 YER 2,025

-71.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$3.35 YER 794

-57.01%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$17.1K YER 4.1M

23.72%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$63.8K YER 15.1M

-57.21%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$87.6 YER 20.7K

-25.84%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$10.01 YER 2,370

33.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$124 YER 29.5K

-83.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

$76.5 YER 18.1K

-47.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$26.05 YER 6,168

-84.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.06 YER 1,435

10.73%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$121 YER 28.6K

551.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$4,734 YER 1.1M

219.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$101 YER 23.9K

-44.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$104 YER 24.5K

-75.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$161 YER 38.1K

-42.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$185 YER 43.8K

-59.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$333 YER 78.7K

45.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

$323 YER 76.4K

-10.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$804 YER 190.2K

13.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$654 YER 154.9K

-18.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

$1,265 YER 299.5K

56.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

$843 YER 199.7K

72.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$460 YER 108.9K

31.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.5

-51.57%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aden: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $333 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 32% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $36.00 in Aden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $660 – 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 94% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,772 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 $20.00 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 $950 in Chiang Mai and $1,848 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 $950, than in Aden at $1,848. 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 $950 versus $1,848 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.