Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Agana Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Agana Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,547 in Agana Heights.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $2,332 in Agana Heights.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $3,118 in Agana Heights.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 44% less than in Agana Heights, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 35% below, Agana Heights is 15% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$16.29 $16.29

-88.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$49.93 $49.93

-62.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.98 $10.98

-28.78%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.86 $4.86

-59.88%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.23 $1.23

-30.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.22 $1.22

-71.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.90 $3.90

-45.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.80 $6.80

-45.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.68 $1.68

1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$6.46 $6.46

-74.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$7.00 $7.00

-83.71%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$6.92 $6.92

-72.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$18.51 $18.51

-12.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.73 $6.73

-53.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$17.93 $17.93

-39.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.85 $3.85

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.22 $1.22

-0.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$6.45 $6.45

-75.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.70 $2.70

-48.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.76 $2.76

-57.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$4.11 $4.11

-83.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.02 $2.02

-73.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$10.08 $10.08

-53.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$12.10 $12.10

54.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.77 $1.77

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.52 $1.52

112.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$2.95 $2.95

-69.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$59.0 $59.0

-67.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$9.98 $9.98

-85.87%

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

$40.0K $40.0K

-46.76%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.5K $34.5K

-35.64%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$347 $347

-80.08%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$74.1 $74.1

-81.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$96.7 $96.7

-81.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$99.6 $99.6

-58.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$44.38 $44.38

-84.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$9.80 $9.80

-39.59%

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

$56.0 $56.0

-2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$55.3 $55.3

-51.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$101 $101

-15.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$147 $147

-52.10%

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 %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Agana Heights: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $50.0 in Agana Heights for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $429 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 Agana Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Agana Heights. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $2,320 in Agana Heights 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Agana Heights. 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 $1,547 in Agana Heights – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $866 in Chiang Mai versus $1,547 in Agana Heights, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Agana Heights. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $866 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Agana Heights 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 79% less than in Agana Heights. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.