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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $247 in Afgoye.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $323 in Afgoye.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $398 in Afgoye.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 251% more expensive than Afgoye, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Afgoye 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.01 SOS 574

92.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.60 SOS 2,046

117.22%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$0.48 SOS 274

306.25%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.48 SOS 271

77.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.21 SOS 119

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.98 SOS 1,690

-42.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.62 SOS 2,057

-46.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.19 SOS 4,650

33.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.26 SOS 148

246.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.11 SOS 2,902

175.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$25.10 SOS 14.3K

-28.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$10.13 SOS 5,752

439.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$44.14 SOS 25.1K

59.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$99.2 SOS 56.3K

331.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$96.7 SOS 54.9K

145.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$283 SOS 161.0K

182.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$80.7 SOS 45.8K

538.92%

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

$199 SOS 113.2K

209.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Afgoye: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $99.2 in Afgoye. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 210% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Afgoye: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Afgoye differ by about 251% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $247 including rent). Afgoye is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chiang Mai pays 210% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $99.2 in Afgoye. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 258% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $247 in Afgoye – a 251% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Afgoye gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Afgoye 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 Afgoye gentler on the wallet – expenses run 251% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.