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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,062 in Arue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,574 in Arue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $2,087 in Arue.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 19% less than in Arue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Arue 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.39 CFPF 144

18.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$4.83 CFPF 502

-67.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$3.95 CFPF 411

-69.87%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$11.60 CFPF 1,207

-83.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$57.4 CFPF 5,974

-71.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$27.36 CFPF 2,847

-89.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$24.70 CFPF 2,570

-55.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$5.57 CFPF 580

-51.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.85 CFPF 296

-58.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$7.86 CFPF 818

-78.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$8.92 CFPF 928

-82.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$4.38 CFPF 456

-68.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.87 CFPF 298

-58.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$3.81 CFPF 396

-82.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$1.41 CFPF 147

-60.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$12.06 CFPF 1,255

-61.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$28.67 CFPF 2,983

-38.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.98 CFPF 311

-37.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$7.75 CFPF 806

-57.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$164 CFPF 17.1K

-56.95%

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$125 CFPF 13.0K

-85.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arue: July 11, 2026

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 Arue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Arue. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chiang Mai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,593 in Arue 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 215% higher in Arue. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $1,062 in Arue – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $861 in Chiang Mai versus $1,062 in Arue, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chiang Mai but tight or insufficient in Arue. The gap between the two cities makes Chiang Mai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chiang Mai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $861 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chiang Mai hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Arue 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Arue. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.