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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $877 in Adma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,426 in Adma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,975 in Adma.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 1% less than in Adma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Adma 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$10.96 LBP 981.0K

-82.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$60.3 LBP 5.4M

-69.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.86 LBP 703.1K

-0.51%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.25 LBP 290.6K

-40.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.56 LBP 140.0K

-45.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.93 LBP 83.4K

-62.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.52 LBP 315.2K

-39.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$5.09 LBP 455.2K

-26.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.79 LBP 160.6K

-4.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.80 LBP 71.6K

103.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.74 LBP 155.9K

-34.48%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.05 LBP 273.1K

-36.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.49 LBP 1.0M

41.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$9.36 LBP 837.9K

-66.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.49 LBP 1.0M

-5.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.75 LBP 156.6K

57.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.51 LBP 135.2K

-19.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.10 LBP 98.8K

47.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.10 LBP 98.2K

44.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.98 LBP 88.1K

42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.04 LBP 92.8K

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.83 LBP 74.4K

-20.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.52 LBP 46.9K

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.45 LBP 219.3K

91.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.06 LBP 900.2K

85.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.25 LBP 111.6K

44.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.16 LBP 193.6K

49.54%

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

$5.05 LBP 452.0K

-72.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.24 LBP 110.8K

4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$19.83 LBP 1.8M

-60.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.90 LBP 80.6K

41.11%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.2K LBP 3.2B

-39.63%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$28.1K LBP 2.5B

-20.84%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$217 LBP 19.4M

-68.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$38.36 LBP 3.4M

-63.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$37.21 LBP 3.3M

-51.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.91 LBP 708.1K

-25.16%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$301 LBP 26.9M

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,452 LBP 398.5M

235.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$70.7 LBP 6.3M

-22.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$45.50 LBP 4.1M

-41.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$122 LBP 10.9M

-30.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$93.2 LBP 8.3M

-24.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Adma: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $60.0 in Adma. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 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 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,316 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 $299 in Chiang Mai versus $301 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 $19.00 versus $60.0 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 1% less than in Adma. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.