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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $529 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $856 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,183 in Amparai.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 64% more expensive than Amparai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Amparai 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.05 LKR 1,344

-52.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.62 LKR 8,164

-24.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.14 LKR 2,698

-3.93%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.66 LKR 881

-26.69%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.69 LKR 229

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.37 LKR 124

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.31 LKR 765

-7.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.43 LKR 1,136

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.73 LKR 573

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.51 LKR 171

219.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.88 LKR 290

29.55%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.21 LKR 733

-12.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$14.24 LKR 4,721

13.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.62 LKR 1,531

-32.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$8.15 LKR 2,703

33.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$7.46 LKR 2,474

-63.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.10 LKR 365

10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$5.76 LKR 1,910

-71.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.25 LKR 413

27.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.15 LKR 382

21.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.38 LKR 457

-15.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.14 LKR 379

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.60 LKR 198

-11.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$10.15 LKR 3,367

-53.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$12.71 LKR 4,214

46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.99 LKR 660

-9.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.87 LKR 952

12.54%

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

$0.39 LKR 129

261.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.35 LKR 117

268.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$0.57 LKR 189

1275.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.21 LKR 403

4.96%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-21.21%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

-35.90%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$59.3 LKR 19.7K

16.46%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$4.27 LKR 1,417

229.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$15.32 LKR 5,078

17.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$1.97 LKR 655

200.51%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$36.57 LKR 12.1K

717.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$443 LKR 146.9K

3274.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$27.17 LKR 9,007

101.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$19.37 LKR 6,422

38.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$70.4 LKR 23.3K

20.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$39.41 LKR 13.1K

79.14%

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

$88.9 LKR 29.5K

594.86%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Amparai: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Chiang Mai pays 595% 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 $25.00 in Amparai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $257 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 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chiang Mai pays 595% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $299 in Chiang Mai versus $36.57 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 $19.00 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 64% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.