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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,615 in Atlantida, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,541 in Atlantida, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,468 in Atlantida, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 47% cheaper than Atlantida, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Atlantida is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$20.70 UYU 833

-90.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$60.6 UYU 2,438

-69.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$12.43 UYU 500

-36.77%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$3.49 UYU 141

-41.83%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.78 UYU 71.6

-55.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.03 UYU 41.33

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.89 UYU 116

-25.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.39 UYU 136

8.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.01 UYU 40.50

71.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$3.07 UYU 124

-48.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.43 UYU 57.5

-16.08%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.89 UYU 156

-49.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$13.30 UYU 535

22.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$9.32 UYU 375

-67.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$10.41 UYU 419

3.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.40 UYU 96.6

15.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.24 UYU 90.2

-47.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.34 UYU 53.8

27.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$2.75 UYU 111

-42.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.68 UYU 67.7

-17.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$2.11 UYU 84.7

-45.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$1.18 UYU 47.27

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.70 UYU 68.5

-69.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.69 UYU 189

-0.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$6.81 UYU 274

161.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.28 UYU 91.7

-21.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.39 UYU 96.3

39.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$2.65 UYU 107

-65.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$46.07 UYU 1,853

-59.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.94 UYU 78.2

-27.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$1.57 UYU 63.3

-14.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$17.53 UYU 705

-53.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.88 UYU 75.7

-34.57%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$38.4K UYU 1.5M

-44.12%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$38.2K UYU 1.5M

-42.85%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$86.0 UYU 3,457

-17.03%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$28.80 UYU 1,158

-51.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$31.37 UYU 1,262

-42.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$60.3 UYU 2,425

-32.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$17.31 UYU 696

-60.25%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$11.53 UYU 464

-50.39%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$488 UYU 19.6K

-36.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$8,729 UYU 351.0K

68.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$89.1 UYU 3,582

-37.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$42.98 UYU 1,729

-39.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$206 UYU 8,292

-58.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$120 UYU 4,834

-40.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$751 UYU 30.2K

-43.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$528 UYU 21.2K

-54.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$1,308 UYU 52.6K

-39.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$964 UYU 38.8K

-47.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,963 UYU 78.9K

-2.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$1,483 UYU 59.6K

-1.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$526 UYU 21.1K

13.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Atlantida: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $751 in Atlantida. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $61.0 in Atlantida. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $289 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Atlantida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Atlantida is pricier by about 89%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,422 in Atlantida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $61.0 in Atlantida. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $1,615 in Atlantida. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Atlantida at $1,615. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Atlantida it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Atlantida makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.