😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $848 in Chiang Mai versus $726 in Anapolis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Chiang Mai versus $1,202 in Anapolis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,814 in Chiang Mai versus $1,678 in Anapolis.
🌍Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 17% more expensive than in Anapolis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai36% lower, Anapolis46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.1
$5.25R$27.09
-62.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿603
$35.74R$184
-48.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿258
$5.54R$28.58
42.06%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$1.65R$8.52
18.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$1.18R$6.07
-27.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.61
$0.82R$4.23
-60.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿70.2
$1.75R$9.05
22.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿121
$2.28R$11.75
61.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿54.4
$0.99R$5.10
67.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿51.1
$1.67R$8.64
-6.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.95
$1.47R$7.60
-19.05%
Eggs
$1.99฿65.2
$1.98R$10.21
0.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿532
$8.14R$41.99
99.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿104
$3.36R$17.34
-5.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿355
$6.48R$33.45
67.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿87.0
$1.85R$9.55
43.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿40.00
$1.03R$5.32
18.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿54.1
$1.11R$5.72
48.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.7
$1.01R$5.20
53.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.53
$1.22R$6.31
9.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.75
$0.91R$4.72
32.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.22
$0.62R$3.20
9.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.54
$0.62R$3.21
-8.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿154
$1.79R$9.24
161.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿557
$5.93R$30.62
186.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.11R$5.74
63.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿104
$2.29R$11.80
38.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.70
$0.86R$4.44
5.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿614
$38.77R$200
-51.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿46.18
$0.99R$5.10
42.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.88
$0.81R$4.17
65.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿267
$5.90R$30.46
37.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.88
$1.14R$5.87
12.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿715.2K
$25.0KR$129.0K
-12.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿734.1K
$28.2KR$145.8K
-20.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,310
$53.0R$274
32.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿460
$9.05R$46.69
55.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿578
$17.97R$92.8
-1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,353
$22.48R$116
83.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿222
$21.54R$111
-68.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿195
$5.27R$27.18
13.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,928
$481R$2,483
-37.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿490.2K
$15.1KR$78.0K
-1.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,793
$53.5R$276
2.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿861
$36.36R$188
-27.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,811
$67.7R$350
26.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,284
$35.70R$184
95.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$313R$1,615
36.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,834
$219R$1,130
9.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.6K
$590R$3,045
37.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.7K
$435R$2,246
17.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿66.4K
$1,249R$6,447
62.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿49.2K
$937R$4,837
60.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Anapolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.4K
$531R$2,742
17.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10.68
-53.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Anapolis: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Chiang Mai and $313 in Anapolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chiang Mai pays 17% 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 $36.00 in Anapolis. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $163, with Anapolis cheaper for home cooking.
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 Anapolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Anapolis?
Anapolis wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anapolis the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chiang Mai or in Anapolis?
Average pay runs 17% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Anapolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Chiang Mai versus $313 in Anapolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Chiang Mai compared to Anapolis?
All in, you'll spend $848 per month in Chiang Mai versus $726 in Anapolis – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Anapolis?
A monthly transit pass in Anapolis runs roughly 107% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Anapolis?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Anapolis gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Anapolis?
Both work as nomad bases, but Anapolis delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $726 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anapolis hard to pass up.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Anapolis?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Anapolis are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Anapolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared