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: $947 in Chiang Mai versus $1,014 in Adma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,411 in Chiang Mai versus $1,622 in Adma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,874 in Chiang Mai versus $2,231 in Adma.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 7% less than in Adma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Adma 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$12.20 LBP 1.1M

-82.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$64.5 LBP 5.8M

-69.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$10.13 LBP 907.0K

-44.23%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$4.52 LBP 404.4K

-59.96%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$2.30 LBP 206.0K

-69.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.84 LBP 75.1K

-61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$4.87 LBP 436.1K

-54.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$5.05 LBP 451.8K

-28.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$1.94 LBP 174.0K

1.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$0.83 LBP 74.1K

80.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$2.12 LBP 189.8K

-36.79%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$3.65 LBP 326.4K

-38.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$13.70 LBP 1.2M

18.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$10.58 LBP 946.5K

-72.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$14.04 LBP 1.3M

-29.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$3.11 LBP 278.5K

-17.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$1.66 LBP 148.4K

-36.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$1.64 LBP 146.4K

-1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$1.52 LBP 135.7K

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$1.41 LBP 126.1K

-9.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$1.62 LBP 145.1K

-33.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$1.21 LBP 108.4K

-40.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$0.74 LBP 65.8K

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$2.94 LBP 262.9K

42.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$10.19 LBP 911.6K

75.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.32 LBP 118.3K

28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$2.50 LBP 223.7K

13.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$5.10 LBP 456.3K

-75.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$2.22 LBP 198.8K

-73.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$22.37 LBP 2.0M

-89.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.00 LBP 89.8K

41.00%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$53.5K LBP 4.8B

-59.95%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$32.9K LBP 2.9B

-16.82%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$226 LBP 20.3M

-71.88%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$23.88 LBP 2.1M

-46.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$37.77 LBP 3.4M

-46.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$9.82 LBP 878.9K

-31.36%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$679 LBP 60.8M

14.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$10.8K LBP 970.8M

34.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$67.9 LBP 6.1M

-20.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$48.46 LBP 4.3M

-47.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$139 LBP 12.5M

-32.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$122 LBP 10.9M

-39.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-49.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Adma: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $64.0 in Adma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $280 per month, with Chiang Mai cheaper across the board.

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 Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,421 in Chiang Mai and $1,521 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 $778 in Chiang Mai versus $679 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 $20.00 versus $64.0 in Adma. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $947 in Chiang Mai versus $1,014 in Adma, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Adma. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 7% less than in Adma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.