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 $942 per month in Chiang Mai vs $767 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,427 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,396 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,912 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,026 in Ayutthaya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Ayutthaya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Ayutthaya 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.4

$1.76 ฿58.6

18.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.91 ฿664

$21.66 ฿723

-8.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ฿186

$6.34 ฿211

-11.99%

Cappuccino

$1.74 ฿58.0

$1.94 ฿64.7

-10.31%

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

$0.72 ฿24.01

$0.71 ฿23.81

1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.67

$0.31 ฿10.35

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 ฿75.1

$2.10 ฿70.0

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿127

$2.82 ฿94.1

35.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿67.4

$1.48 ฿49.24

36.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.29 ฿43.08

21.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.58

$1.28 ฿42.84

9.37%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.78 ฿59.5

20.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.63 ฿522

$11.91 ฿397

31.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.3

$2.51 ฿83.8

17.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ฿317

$10.14 ฿338

-6.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ฿86.9

$2.41 ฿80.6

7.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 ฿36.08

$1.03 ฿34.50

4.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.1

$2.28 ฿75.9

-30.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.47

$1.31 ฿43.86

10.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.60

$1.84 ฿61.4

-30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.07

$1.05 ฿34.98

5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ฿24.23

$1.05 ฿34.93

-30.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.42 ฿13.89

19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿143

$3.54 ฿118

20.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿590

$14.24 ฿475

24.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ฿93.5

$2.51 ฿83.8

11.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿28.87

$0.88 ฿29.53

-1.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.2 ฿1,808

$12.12 ฿405

347.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.47

$1.47 ฿49.11

-17.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.98

$1.54 ฿51.3

-64.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.93 ฿165

-51.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.84

$1.16 ฿38.75

25.86%

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

$21.0K ฿701.2K

$16.9K ฿562.7K

24.62%

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

$26.7K ฿890.8K

$26.6K ฿888.7K

0.23%

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

$62.1 ฿2,071

$83.2 ฿2,778

-25.42%

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

$12.93 ฿431

$9.61 ฿321

34.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.61 ฿688

$14.19 ฿473

45.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.21 ฿1,308

$67.8 ฿2,263

-42.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿126

$12.19 ฿407

-69.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ฿217

$4.56 ฿152

42.98%

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

$803 ฿26.8K

$197 ฿6,589

306.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿490.4K

$11.0K ฿366.3K

33.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 ฿1,864

$59.0 ฿1,967

-5.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.51 ฿851

$44.10 ฿1,472

-42.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.1 ฿3,039

$69.8 ฿2,327

30.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 ฿2,446

$59.2 ฿1,975

23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.1K

$451 ฿15.0K

7.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,617

$162 ฿5,414

77.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 ฿29.5K

$1,386 ฿46.2K

-36.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$523 ฿17.5K

$751 ฿25.1K

-30.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,989 ฿66.4K

$2,102 ฿70.1K

-5.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,440 ฿48.1K

$1,514 ฿50.5K

-4.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$603 ฿20.1K

$978 ฿32.6K

-38.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

85.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 21, 2026

Last update for Ayutthaya: September 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $451 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 62% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Ayutthaya. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $211 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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,150 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 $803 per month in Chiang Mai and $197 in Ayutthaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ayutthaya, where all-in costs run around $767, than in Chiang Mai at $942. In Ayutthaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.