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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $891 in Adma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,414 in Adma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,937 in Adma.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 3% less than in Adma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Adma 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$10.67 LBP 954.5K

-81.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$59.2 LBP 5.3M

-69.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.81 LBP 699.0K

-4.23%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$3.23 LBP 289.2K

-37.46%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.58 LBP 141.0K

-46.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.93 LBP 83.6K

-61.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$3.59 LBP 321.1K

-40.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.99 LBP 446.5K

-28.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.79 LBP 160.0K

-7.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.79 LBP 70.6K

98.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.84 LBP 164.7K

-35.33%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.09 LBP 276.5K

-37.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$11.48 LBP 1.0M

41.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$9.35 LBP 837.2K

-68.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.39 LBP 1.0M

-3.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.79 LBP 160.5K

51.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.47 LBP 131.7K

-20.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.13 LBP 101.4K

49.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.10 LBP 98.0K

45.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.93 LBP 83.2K

48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.00 LBP 89.6K

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.81 LBP 72.9K

-17.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.56 LBP 49.9K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.53 LBP 226.0K

83.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.08 LBP 902.0K

74.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.24 LBP 110.5K

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.14 LBP 191.8K

54.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$4.99 LBP 446.3K

-72.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.22 LBP 109.6K

9.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$20.09 LBP 1.8M

-59.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$0.95 LBP 85.1K

28.42%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$34.9K LBP 3.1B

-38.81%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$28.4K LBP 2.5B

-20.58%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$217 LBP 19.4M

-67.43%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$36.98 LBP 3.3M

-62.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$36.94 LBP 3.3M

-52.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.86 LBP 703.9K

-24.68%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$307 LBP 27.5M

0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$4,491 LBP 402.0M

231.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$71.5 LBP 6.4M

-22.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$44.93 LBP 4.0M

-41.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$120 LBP 10.8M

-31.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$94.0 LBP 8.4M

-25.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

-55.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Adma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $59.0 in Adma. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $234, with Adma 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 Adma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,337 in Adma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $307 in Adma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chiang Mai – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $59.0 in Adma. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Adma, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Adma are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Adma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.