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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $950 in Chiang Mai versus $850 in Apia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,430 in Chiang Mai versus $2,339 in Apia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Chiang Mai versus $3,828 in Apia.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 12% more expensive than in Apia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 31% lower, Apia 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$46.91 WST 128

-95.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$37.30 WST 102

-46.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$14.68 WST 40.11

-60.56%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.96 WST 8.09

-38.18%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.85 WST 5.05

-57.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.40 WST 3.81

-77.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.55 WST 9.71

-34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.56 WST 9.73

3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.78 WST 4.86

14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.81 WST 2.21

97.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.87 WST 5.11

-24.06%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$4.39 WST 12.01

-50.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$0.88 WST 2.42

1707.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$3.76 WST 10.27

-18.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.20 WST 22.42

20.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$5.05 WST 13.80

-47.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.85 WST 5.07

-40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.79 WST 4.90

-8.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$4.51 WST 12.33

-66.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$3.76 WST 10.27

-67.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.12 WST 3.06

0.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.23 WST 3.37

-59.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$6.14 WST 16.78

-30.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$16.43 WST 44.92

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.79 WST 4.89

-5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$3.59 WST 9.82

-19.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$3.76 WST 10.28

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$5.64 WST 15.43

-78.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$5.45 WST 14.91

-90.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$21.64 WST 59.1

-88.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.11 WST 3.04

29.73%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$17.98 WST 49.15

261.12%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$18.52 WST 50.6

-27.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$37.30 WST 102

-44.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,823 WST 4,984

-70.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Apia: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $37.00 in Apia. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $240, with Apia 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 Apia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Chiang Mai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,426 in Chiang Mai and $1,275 in Apia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Chiang Mai versus $850 in Apia – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $850 in Apia versus $950 in Chiang Mai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Apia but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Apia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Apia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $850 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Apia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Apia 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 Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.