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: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Afgoye.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $326 in Afgoye.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $401 in Afgoye.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 245% more expensive than in Afgoye, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Afgoye 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$0.98 SOS 559

100.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.43 SOS 1,946

118.08%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$0.48 SOS 275

320.83%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.48 SOS 272

77.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.23 SOS 131

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.93 SOS 1,662

-43.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.56 SOS 2,025

-45.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.95 SOS 4,516

37.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.26 SOS 149

238.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.93 SOS 2,802

184.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$24.89 SOS 14.1K

-29.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$10.03 SOS 5,699

455.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$43.36 SOS 24.6K

62.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$99.0 SOS 56.2K

336.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$97.1 SOS 55.1K

146.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$292 SOS 165.8K

181.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$80.8 SOS 45.9K

533.40%

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

$198 SOS 112.3K

193.03%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Afgoye: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $99.0 in Afgoye. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 193% 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 245% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $250 including rent). Afgoye is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 193% higher in Chiang Mai, 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: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $99.0 in Afgoye. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 261% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Afgoye – a 245% 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 245% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.