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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $420 in Arak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $660 in Arak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $900 in Arak.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 105% more expensive than in Arak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Arak 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$2.96 $2.96

-33.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$14.08 $14.08

30.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$2.57 $2.57

191.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.27 $1.27

59.06%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.37 $0.37

129.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.03 $1.03

-65.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$0.59 $0.59

179.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.54 $0.54

190.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.94 $1.94

-38.66%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$0.96 $0.96

102.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$1.92 $1.92

743.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$1.87 $1.87

59.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$8.60 $8.60

27.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$0.84 $0.84

222.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.11 $1.11

5.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.63 $0.63

168.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.45 $0.45

255.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.41 $0.41

236.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.36 $0.36

233.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.34 $0.34

97.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.25 $0.25

124.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.80 $1.80

157.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.42 $0.42

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$9.80 $9.80

97.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.37 $0.37

267.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.09 $0.09

1388.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$1.24 $1.24

562.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.37 $0.37

229.73%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$42.9K $42.9K

-50.27%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$38.6K $38.6K

-41.70%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$10.12 $10.12

598.32%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$1.98 $1.98

609.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$5.78 $5.78

202.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$12.89 $12.89

227.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$16.42 $16.42

-58.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$1.02 $1.02

480.39%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$60.4 $60.4

411.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$1,961 $1,961

658.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$13.07 $13.07

326.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$8.13 $8.13

221.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$45.41 $45.41

82.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$44.21 $44.21

59.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$303 $303

42.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$192 $192

24.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$486 $486

69.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$304 $304

68.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,351 $1,351

41.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$521 $521

181.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$370 $370

56.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.33

-72.72%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arak: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Chiang Mai and $303 in Arak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chiang Mai pays 57% 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 $14.00 in Arak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $86.0 per month, with Arak 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 Arak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 57% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Chiang Mai versus $303 in Arak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $420 in Arak – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arak runs roughly 97% less than in Chiang Mai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

For families, Arak 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 Arak 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 Arak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.