ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,324 in Antrim.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Chiang Mai versus $3,180 in Antrim.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,857 in Chiang Mai versus $4,035 in Antrim.
ðLiving in Chiang Mai costs roughly 63% less than in Antrim, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Chiang Mai is 36% below, Antrim is 74% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$23.47ÂĢ17.39
-91.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$103ÂĢ76.4
-81.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$9.77ÂĢ7.24
-18.94%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$4.65ÂĢ3.45
-58.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$2.62ÂĢ1.94
-67.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$2.00ÂĢ1.49
-82.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$7.45ÂĢ5.52
-70.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$6.97ÂĢ5.16
-45.48%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$1.63ÂĢ1.21
0.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$1.91ÂĢ1.42
-15.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$2.28ÂĢ1.69
-48.25%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$4.24ÂĢ3.14
-52.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$11.96ÂĢ8.86
32.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$10.51ÂĢ7.79
-71.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$18.92ÂĢ14.02
-43.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$3.36ÂĢ2.49
-22.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.89ÂĢ1.40
-35.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$3.29ÂĢ2.44
-48.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$4.84ÂĢ3.58
-67.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$1.81ÂĢ1.34
-27.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$1.42ÂĢ1.05
-17.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$1.16ÂĢ0.86
-42.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$1.45ÂĢ1.07
-61.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$20.15ÂĢ14.93
-77.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$10.70ÂĢ7.93
70.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$2.81ÂĢ2.08
-34.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$3.67ÂĢ2.72
-11.99%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$7.30ÂĢ5.41
-87.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
$78.0ÂĢ57.8
-75.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$5.49ÂĢ4.07
-75.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$1.87ÂĢ1.38
-27.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$34.26ÂĢ25.38
-75.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.93ÂĢ1.43
-34.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$38.2KÂĢ28.3K
-44.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$41.6KÂĢ30.8K
-45.89%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$255ÂĢ189
-72.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$17.18ÂĢ12.73
-19.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$43.88ÂĢ32.51
-59.89%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$31.24ÂĢ23.15
33.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$9.32ÂĢ6.91
-29.18%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$13.73ÂĢ10.18
-57.90%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$1,474ÂĢ1,092
-79.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$8,716ÂĢ6,459
70.09%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$83.5ÂĢ61.9
-34.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$50.4ÂĢ37.34
-48.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$107ÂĢ79.1
-20.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$86.5ÂĢ64.1
-19.75%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$1,069ÂĢ792
-60.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$964ÂĢ714
-75.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$1,379ÂĢ1,022
-40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$1,014ÂĢ751
-49.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Antrim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
$3,079ÂĢ2,281
-79.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.63
-11.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Antrim: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Chiang Mai and $1,069 in Antrim. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Antrim pays 385% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $103 in Antrim for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $345 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 Antrim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antrim cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Chiang Mai or Antrim?
On paper, Antrim earns 385% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Chiang Mai and Antrim?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,069 in Antrim. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Chiang Mai vs Antrim?
All in, you'll spend $852 per month in Chiang Mai versus $2,324 in Antrim â a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Chiang Mai runs roughly 302% less than in Antrim. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Chiang Mai or Antrim?
At $852 in Chiang Mai versus $2,324 in Antrim, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Antrim. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Antrim more family-friendly?
For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Antrim, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Antrim?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Antrim 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet â expenses run 173% less than in Antrim. 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