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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $894 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,431 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,967 in Alexandria.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 4% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Alexandria 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.64 JMD 1,206

-74.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$63.5 JMD 10.0K

-71.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.82 JMD 1,392

-15.19%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.31 JMD 679

-53.13%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.30 JMD 206

-34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.70 JMD 111

-48.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.46 JMD 388

-13.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.15 JMD 497

13.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$4.20 JMD 663

-60.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$3.63 JMD 573

-56.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.62 JMD 255

-26.54%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.57 JMD 563

-45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.13 JMD 1,756

45.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.31 JMD 995

-52.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.49 JMD 1,182

46.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$6.16 JMD 972

-56.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$3.09 JMD 488

-62.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$4.27 JMD 674

-60.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.95 JMD 465

-45.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.10 JMD 332

-34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.93 JMD 305

-37.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$3.00 JMD 474

-77.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.45 JMD 229

-61.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$8.85 JMD 1,396

-47.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$11.40 JMD 1,799

54.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.81 JMD 443

-33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.20 JMD 505

3.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.08 JMD 171

25.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$3.21 JMD 507

-58.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.11 JMD 963

34.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.23 JMD 194

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

-51.17%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-33.29%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$162 JMD 25.5K

-56.33%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$21.86 JMD 3,449

-35.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$50.5 JMD 7,960

-65.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$13.21 JMD 2,084

-55.19%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$227 JMD 35.9K

35.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,437 JMD 384.6K

510.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$25.71 JMD 4,057

116.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$26.05 JMD 4,111

0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$72.1 JMD 11.4K

15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

-7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $64.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $351 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 Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai and Alexandria differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $894 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,342 in Alexandria 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 $309 in Chiang Mai versus $227 in Alexandria. 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 $18.00 versus $64.0 in Alexandria. 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.

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 Alexandria 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 4% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.