Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Aleppo

For one person, living is cheaper in Aleppo: $667 a month against $906 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Aleppo
🇸🇾 Syria
$667
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Aleppo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Aleppo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $906 in Chiang Mai versus $667 in Aleppo.

  • Chiang Mai $906
  • Aleppo $667

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Chiang Mai versus $1,075 in Aleppo.

  • Chiang Mai $1,385
  • Aleppo $1,075

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,864 in Chiang Mai versus $1,483 in Aleppo.

  • Chiang Mai $1,864
  • Aleppo $1,483

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 36% more expensive than in Aleppo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Aleppo 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$3.07 SYP 373
-30.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$19.88 SYP 2,416
-2.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$3.28 SYP 398
66.77%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$1.29 SYP 157
30.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.22 SYP 149
-45.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.54 SYP 66.2
-37.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$3.01 SYP 366
-19.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$1.34 SYP 163
178.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.53 SYP 186
34.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$0.93 SYP 113
56.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.67 SYP 203
-19.16%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$3.14 SYP 382
-27.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$8.13 SYP 988
100.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$6.30 SYP 766
-57.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$10.45 SYP 1,269
-11.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$1.24 SYP 151
92.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$2.43 SYP 295
-57.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$1.26 SYP 153
26.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$0.83 SYP 101
73.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$0.81 SYP 98.1
60.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$0.96 SYP 117
15.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.31 SYP 38.18
125.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.75 SYP 91.3
-32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$3.20 SYP 389
29.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$4.76 SYP 578
273.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.98 SYP 241
-17.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$2.56 SYP 311
12.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.22 SYP 26.28
290.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$3.04 SYP 370
1648.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.92 SYP 234
-36.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$2.01 SYP 244
-72.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$3.88 SYP 472
-40.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.39 SYP 169
7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$23.2K SYP 2.8M
-10.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$20.8K SYP 2.5M
28.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$77.2 SYP 9,386
-20.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$13.42 SYP 1,631
-6.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$20.02 SYP 2,433
1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$14.91 SYP 1,812
154.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$19.92 SYP 2,421
-81.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$3.04 SYP 370
117.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$68.5 SYP 8,324
1029.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$1,555 SYP 188.9K
828.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$70.6 SYP 8,577
-22.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$62.4 SYP 7,583
-59.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$113 SYP 13.8K
-20.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$145 SYP 17.7K
-49.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$89.7 SYP 10.9K
411.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$76.3 SYP 9,274
284.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$228 SYP 27.6K
303.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$154 SYP 18.8K
257.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$787 SYP 95.6K
143.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$296 SYP 35.9K
388.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Aleppo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$64.2 SYP 7,800
822.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026

Last update for Aleppo: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$294
Aleppo
$76 74% $217
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$236
Aleppo
$200 15.1% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$110
Aleppo
$176 60.6% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Aleppo
$111 17.6% $17
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Aleppo
$75 3.3% $2.5
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Aleppo
$16 73.8% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Aleppo
$21 58.9% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $459 in Chiang Mai and $89.7 in Aleppo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 823% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $20.00 in Aleppo. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $200, with Aleppo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇾 Aleppo
🕒 Local time
18:58 6:58 PM
14:58 2:58 PM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
2,132,100
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

SYP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Syrian Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 122 SYP (1,000 SYP = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 136 SYP (1,000 SYP = 7.34 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Aleppo 6,290 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Aleppo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Aleppo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chiang Mai and in Aleppo?
Chiang Mai and Aleppo differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($906 vs $667 including rent). Aleppo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Chiang Mai or Aleppo?
Average pay runs 823% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Aleppo?
Rent for a central apartment: $459 in Chiang Mai versus $89.7 in Aleppo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chiang Mai or Aleppo?
All in, you'll spend $906 per month in Chiang Mai versus $667 in Aleppo – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Aleppo?
A monthly transit pass in Aleppo runs roughly 1648% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $667 in Aleppo versus $906 in Chiang Mai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aleppo but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Aleppo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Chiang Mai and Aleppo?
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.
Is Chiang Mai or Aleppo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Aleppo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Chiang Mai or Aleppo?
Expats usually find Aleppo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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