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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $668 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,023 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,378 in Ambon.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 30% more expensive than Ambon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ambon 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

102.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$12.24 Rp 218.5K

52.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.32 Rp 59.3K

135.54%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

17.47%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.54 Rp 9,671

57.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.24 Rp 4,282

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.53 Rp 45.1K

-15.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.49 Rp 62.3K

6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.23 Rp 21.9K

39.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.17 Rp 20.8K

39.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

22.58%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.59 Rp 28.4K

21.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.96 Rp 142.1K

103.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.14 Rp 56.1K

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.84 Rp 140.0K

39.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.30 Rp 41.1K

19.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

-18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.54 Rp 27.6K

3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.95 Rp 34.8K

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.41 Rp 7,310

29.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.45 Rp 43.7K

91.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$21.81 Rp 389.4K

-14.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.08 Rp 37.2K

-13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.11 Rp 55.6K

3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.30 Rp 5,302

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$10.07 Rp 179.8K

90.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.53 Rp 9,472

166.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.34 Rp 6,137

279.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.90 Rp 51.8K

170.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

64.94%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$24.1K Rp 430.3M

-11.70%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.7K Rp 494.3M

-19.75%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

-2.51%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.34 Rp 77.5K

224.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.70 Rp 405.3K

-20.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$23.39 Rp 417.7K

75.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.25 Rp 111.6K

11.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.02 Rp 53.9K

96.03%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$93.0 Rp 1.7M

221.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,536 Rp 134.6M

98.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$41.81 Rp 746.6K

30.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$30.35 Rp 542.0K

-11.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$67.9 Rp 1.2M

25.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$73.0 Rp 1.3M

-3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$261 Rp 4.7M

63.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$159 Rp 2.8M

49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$594 Rp 10.6M

34.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$335 Rp 6.0M

53.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,080 Rp 19.3M

82.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$711 Rp 12.7M

107.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$175 Rp 3.1M

253.72%

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 Ambon: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $261 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 254% 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 $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $209 per month, with Ambon 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 Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chiang Mai pays 254% more on average, 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: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $261 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in Chiang Mai versus $668 in Ambon – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 91% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $668 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Ambon 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 Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.