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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $769 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,204 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,638 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Ayutthaya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ayutthaya 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.87 ฿62.5

9.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$19.78 ฿660

-5.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.02 ฿234

11.97%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.08 ฿69.3

-2.40%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.68 ฿22.55

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.29 ฿9.75

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.97 ฿65.6

8.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.36 ฿112

9.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.49 ฿49.70

16.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.91 ฿63.9

-17.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.08 ฿36.17

11.11%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.90 ฿63.4

3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$13.12 ฿438

23.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.51 ฿83.6

21.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$10.94 ฿365

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.57 ฿85.9

7.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.78 ฿26.14

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.88 ฿62.9

-9.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.34 ฿44.79

18.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.66 ฿55.5

-16.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.21 ฿40.36

-4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.02 ฿33.90

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.42 ฿13.99

23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.85 ฿95.2

63.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$14.37 ฿479

23.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.71 ฿57.0

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$3.58 ฿119

-6.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$1.05 ฿35.12

-13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$24.90 ฿831

-25.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.06 ฿35.33

33.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.76 ฿25.25

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$3.63 ฿121

123.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.20 ฿40.04

2.50%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$20.0K ฿667.0K

7.20%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$21.3K ฿710.2K

2.51%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$73.6 ฿2,454

-3.04%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$13.02 ฿434

7.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$17.12 ฿571

4.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$81.6 ฿2,721

-49.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$12.18 ฿406

-43.51%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$5.73 ฿191

-0.17%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$260 ฿8,671

18.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$18.2K ฿608.5K

-19.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$19.26 ฿642

189.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$34.17 ฿1,140

-23.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$60.5 ฿2,018

40.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$57.2 ฿1,909

24.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$420 ฿14.0K

0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$141 ฿4,702

72.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$616 ฿20.6K

29.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$309 ฿10.3K

64.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,684 ฿56.2K

13.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,571 ฿52.4K

-6.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$954 ฿31.8K

-37.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

42.86%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ayutthaya: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $420 in Ayutthaya. 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 60% higher in Ayutthaya, 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 $20.00 in Ayutthaya. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Ayutthaya – so Ayutthaya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ayutthaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,154 in Ayutthaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $260 in Ayutthaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $769 in Ayutthaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ayutthaya – 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 Ayutthaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.