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: $866 in Chiang Mai versus $806 in Assela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Chiang Mai versus $1,237 in Assela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Chiang Mai versus $1,669 in Assela.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 8% more expensive than Assela, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 35% lower, Assela 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.60 ETB 725

-57.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$35.67 ETB 5,622

-47.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.32 ETB 996

23.73%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.29 ETB 203

51.16%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.64 ETB 101

32.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.43 ETB 68.3

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$0.98 ETB 154

117.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.93 ETB 462

27.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.44 ETB 228

18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.32 ETB 209

23.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.17 ETB 343

-47.47%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.46 ETB 388

-21.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.00 ETB 1,104

131.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$13.87 ETB 2,185

-77.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.40 ETB 2,112

-18.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$6.84 ETB 1,078

-59.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.03 ETB 162

17.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.19 ETB 345

-26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.97 ETB 153

63.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.63 ETB 99.6

122.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.88 ETB 296

-37.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.70 ETB 110

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.69 ETB 108

-23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.03 ETB 636

16.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.70 ETB 899

227.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.99 ETB 156

81.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.84 ETB 290

75.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.45 ETB 228

-2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.27 ETB 42.53

377.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$1.98 ETB 312

295.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.29 ETB 204

-1.55%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$55.2K ETB 8.7M

-61.42%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$54.6K ETB 8.6M

-59.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$159 ETB 25.0K

-56.50%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$11.83 ETB 1,864

19.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$131 ETB 20.6K

-86.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.77 ETB 910

2.60%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$79.9 ETB 12.6K

274.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$41.0K ETB 6.5M

-63.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$46.94 ETB 7,398

16.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$75.1 ETB 11.8K

-64.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$94.1 ETB 14.8K

-9.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$115 ETB 18.1K

-38.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Assela: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $19.00 in Chiang Mai vs $36.00 in Assela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $268 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,300 in Chiang Mai and $1,208 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 $299 in Chiang Mai versus $79.9 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 $36.00 versus $19.00 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 8% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.