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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $817 in Assela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,242 in Assela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,667 in Assela.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 5% more expensive than in Assela, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Assela 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$4.59 ETB 727

-57.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$35.32 ETB 5,599

-48.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.54 ETB 1,036

14.37%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.30 ETB 205

55.38%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.69 ETB 110

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.47 ETB 74.2

-23.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.01 ETB 160

111.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.08 ETB 488

16.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.38 ETB 219

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.32 ETB 210

18.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.12 ETB 336

-43.87%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.49 ETB 395

-22.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$6.98 ETB 1,106

131.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$13.67 ETB 2,166

-78.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.17 ETB 2,087

-16.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$6.72 ETB 1,064

-59.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.02 ETB 161

14.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.27 ETB 360

-25.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.99 ETB 157

61.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.68 ETB 108

102.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.92 ETB 304

-37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.69 ETB 109

-2.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.68 ETB 108

-17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.95 ETB 626

17.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$5.66 ETB 897

211.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$0.99 ETB 157

87.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.83 ETB 291

80.33%

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

$1.42 ETB 225

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$0.29 ETB 46.54

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.05 ETB 325

300.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.30 ETB 206

-6.15%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

-60.46%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

-58.14%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$157 ETB 24.9K

-55.00%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$12.04 ETB 1,909

16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$129 ETB 20.5K

-86.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.76 ETB 914

2.78%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

284.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

-62.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$46.74 ETB 7,409

19.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

-64.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

-12.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$113 ETB 17.8K

-37.41%

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 %)

-70.59%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Assela: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $35.00 in Assela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $265 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 Assela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Assela is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,225 in Assela 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.

Childcare runs $309 in Chiang Mai versus $80.2 in Assela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Assela – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Assela 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 Assela 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 Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.