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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $523 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $861 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,200 in Amparai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 65% more expensive than in Amparai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Amparai 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$4.12 LKR 1,386

-52.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.03 LKR 8,410

-26.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.26 LKR 2,776

-9.44%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.68 LKR 899

-24.63%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.69 LKR 233

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.38 LKR 127

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.31 LKR 775

-7.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.39 LKR 1,139

5.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.70 LKR 571

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.55 LKR 185

185.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.87 LKR 292

36.78%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.22 LKR 748

-12.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$13.97 LKR 4,695

15.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.71 LKR 1,582

-36.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.88 LKR 2,647

38.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$7.70 LKR 2,589

-64.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.11 LKR 373

5.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$5.80 LKR 1,950

-70.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.26 LKR 424

26.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.10 LKR 370

25.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.36 LKR 458

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.18 LKR 397

-43.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.60 LKR 202

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$9.99 LKR 3,357

-53.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.71 LKR 4,271

38.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.01 LKR 675

-7.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.94 LKR 989

12.24%

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

$0.38 LKR 128

257.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.35 LKR 119

282.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$0.57 LKR 192

1340.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.24 LKR 417

-1.61%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

-21.29%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$35.5K LKR 11.9M

-36.47%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$59.5 LKR 20.0K

18.83%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$4.31 LKR 1,448

225.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$15.32 LKR 5,147

14.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.00 LKR 671

196.00%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$37.14 LKR 12.5K

730.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$444 LKR 149.1K

3252.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$27.29 LKR 9,170

104.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$19.07 LKR 6,407

36.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$69.2 LKR 23.3K

19.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$38.87 LKR 13.1K

81.25%

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

$90.7 LKR 30.5K

538.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-69.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Amparai: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 539% 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: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $25.00 in Amparai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $258 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 Amparai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 539% 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.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $37.14 in Amparai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Amparai – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Amparai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Amparai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Amparai 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 Amparai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.