Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az-zabadani Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Az-zabadani

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $640 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,020 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,399 in Az-zabadani, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Az-zabadani, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Az-zabadani are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Az-zabadani 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$9.97 SYP 1,211

-79.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$45.78 SYP 5,562

-57.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.88 SYP 836

-17.59%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.80 SYP 462

-52.37%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$2.26 SYP 275

-65.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.85 SYP 104

-58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.88 SYP 229

17.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.09 SYP 375

22.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.06 SYP 128

93.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.39 SYP 47.16

287.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.58 SYP 192

-11.39%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.61 SYP 195

40.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.82 SYP 464

323.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.53 SYP 672

-47.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.88 SYP 1,687

-32.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.07 SYP 130

150.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.41 SYP 171

-22.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.11 SYP 135

45.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.02 SYP 124

43.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.76 SYP 92.3

68.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.81 SYP 98.0

30.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.44 SYP 53.1

63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.66 SYP 80.5

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.85 SYP 346

48.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$5.80 SYP 705

215.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.11 SYP 134

46.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.86 SYP 348

1.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.02 SYP 124

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.54 SYP 187

-62.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$7.51 SYP 913

-68.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$3.64 SYP 442

-60.16%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$15.2K SYP 1.8M

38.53%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$18.8K SYP 2.3M

40.62%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$138 SYP 16.8K

-53.96%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.83 SYP 1,194

31.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$46.37 SYP 5,634

-55.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.43 SYP 660

21.18%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$65.7 SYP 7,987

1092.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,785 SYP 216.9K

721.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$28.74 SYP 3,492

91.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$40.32 SYP 4,899

-38.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$61.1 SYP 7,424

54.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$59.2 SYP 7,187

25.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.25

-60.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Az-zabadani: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $46.00 in Az-zabadani. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $168 in Az-zabadani – so Az-zabadani 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 Az-zabadani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Az-zabadani, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $961 in Az-zabadani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $46.00 in Az-zabadani. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Az-zabadani, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Az-zabadani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Az-zabadani costs $640 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Az-zabadani. 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.