Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Arandis

For one person, living is cheaper in Arandis: $90.2 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
Learn more

Chiang Mai Living Index

Jump to prices

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Arandis

🇳🇦 Namibia

$90.2

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Arandis

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Arandis actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $90 in Arandis, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Arandis $90

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $147 in Arandis, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Arandis $147

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $203 in Arandis, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Arandis $203

Chiang Mai costs about 937% more than Arandis.

Both Chiang Mai and Arandis are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Arandis 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$11.28 NAD 188

-80.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Arandis: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Arandis

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Arandis

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Arandis

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Arandis

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Arandis

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Arandis

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Arandis

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇳🇦 Arandis

🕒 Local time

11:07 11:07 AM

06:07 6:07 AM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

5,200

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Namibian Dollar NAD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 NAD = 5.99 USD

100 NAD = 5.36 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

NAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Namibian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 16.71 NAD (100 NAD = 5.99 USD). 1 EUR = 18.65 NAD (100 NAD = 5.36 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Arandis 10,210 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Arandis

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Arandis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 937% more than Arandis, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $135 in Arandis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Arandis, where all-in costs run around $90, than in Chiang Mai at $936. In Arandis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $90 in Arandis to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.