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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $884 in Alexandria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,450 in Alexandria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $2,015 in Alexandria.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 2% less than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Alexandria 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.32 JMD 1,147

-73.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$61.7 JMD 9,669

-69.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.78 JMD 1,376

-10.93%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.40 JMD 689

-55.68%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.36 JMD 213

-37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.72 JMD 112

-51.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.43 JMD 380

-12.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.05 JMD 478

22.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.24 JMD 665

-59.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$3.62 JMD 568

-54.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.55 JMD 243

-26.45%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.46 JMD 543

-44.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.89 JMD 1,706

48.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.30 JMD 988

-50.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.49 JMD 1,174

45.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$6.05 JMD 948

-54.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$3.02 JMD 473

-59.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$4.15 JMD 650

-60.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.06 JMD 480

-48.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.10 JMD 329

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.93 JMD 303

-39.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$3.11 JMD 488

-78.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.49 JMD 234

-64.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$8.69 JMD 1,361

-46.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.55 JMD 1,809

61.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.85 JMD 447

-36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.05 JMD 478

5.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.12 JMD 175

25.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.20 JMD 501

-59.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.11 JMD 957

28.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.23 JMD 192

3.25%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$43.3K JMD 6.8M

-50.85%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-32.71%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$161 JMD 25.3K

-57.16%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$22.32 JMD 3,497

-36.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$51.2 JMD 8,016

-64.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.40 JMD 2,100

-55.82%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$229 JMD 35.9K

30.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,485 JMD 389.3K

501.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$25.84 JMD 4,049

111.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.62 JMD 4,014

4.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$71.5 JMD 11.2K

18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$76.2 JMD 11.9K

-7.31%

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 %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Alexandria: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $62.0 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $350 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 2% in total monthly costs ($866 vs $884 including rent). Chiang Mai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,326 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 $299 in Chiang Mai versus $229 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 $19.00 versus $62.0 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 2% less than in Alexandria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.