😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $576 in Adigeni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,091 in Adigeni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,606 in Adigeni.
😐Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 51% more expensive than Adigeni, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai35% lower, Adigeni57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.5
$5.38₾14.29
-63.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$29.79₾79.2
-37.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿255
$6.39₾16.99
22.38%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.8
$2.62₾6.97
-25.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.77
$0.71₾1.88
19.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.58
$0.23₾0.61
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.6
$1.49₾3.95
42.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$1.48₾3.94
152.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.76₾4.68
-2.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.36₾0.94
352.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.15
$1.43₾3.80
-20.28%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.1
$1.80₾4.79
7.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$4.66₾12.37
247.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$4.35₾11.57
-28.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$7.15₾19.00
52.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.0
$1.06₾2.81
159.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.52
$1.41₾3.75
-14.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.26₾3.34
28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.31₾3.49
21.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.70
$0.28₾0.74
400.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.17
$0.35₾0.93
234.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.60
$1.34₾3.56
-50.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.22
$0.59₾1.57
-10.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
$3.00₾7.97
56.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿609
$5.48₾14.55
240.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.27₾3.36
41.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.00₾5.32
61.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
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
$0.76₾2.02
85.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.12
$0.28₾0.74
360.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$3.02₾8.01
159.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.58
$1.10₾2.94
15.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿694.9K
$14.7K₾39.1K
44.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿725.4K
$18.6K₾49.3K
19.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,256
$75.1₾200
-8.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$3.56₾9.47
295.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$15.49₾41.16
16.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,341
$28.84₾76.6
42.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
$5.55₾14.75
6.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,766
$242₾644
23.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.3K
$1,847₾4,909
709.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,787
$43.30₾115
26.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿874
$25.17₾66.9
6.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,776
$48.26₾128
76.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,306
$55.1₾146
28.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$185₾491
131.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,752
$108₾288
119.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$633₾1,683
26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$559₾1,486
-7.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Adigeni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$758₾2,013
-18.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
12.17
-58.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Adigeni: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $185 in Adigeni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Adigeni pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $30.00 in Adigeni. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $152, with Adigeni 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 Adigeni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and Adigeni?
Chiang Mai and Adigeni differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $576 including rent). Adigeni is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Adigeni earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and Adigeni?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $185 in Adigeni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Adigeni?
All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $576 in Adigeni – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Chiang Mai vs Adigeni?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Adigeni gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Adigeni?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Chiang Mai or Adigeni safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Adigeni are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Mai or Adigeni?
Expats usually find Adigeni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Chiang Mai. 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