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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Chiang Mai versus $890 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Chiang Mai versus $1,258 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,838 in Chiang Mai versus $1,625 in Azua.

Living in Chiang Mai costs roughly 3% less than in Azua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 36% lower, Azua 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$8.74 DOP 510

-77.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$51.6 DOP 3,011

-64.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.31 DOP 426

2.33%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.38 DOP 80.4

46.38%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.02 DOP 59.6

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.78 DOP 45.30

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.50 DOP 146

-14.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$5.06 DOP 295

-29.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.25 DOP 73.1

32.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.78 DOP 104

-11.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.09 DOP 63.8

9.17%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.64 DOP 95.7

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$7.17 DOP 418

125.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.14 DOP 358

-51.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.06 DOP 645

-1.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.27 DOP 191

-17.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$0.92 DOP 53.9

27.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.88 DOP 168

-41.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.03 DOP 118

-21.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$2.46 DOP 144

-43.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$2.36 DOP 137

-49.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.14 DOP 66.2

-41.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.89 DOP 51.9

-37.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.67 DOP 331

-18.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$17.30 DOP 1,009

1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.61 DOP 152

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.10 DOP 181

6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.37 DOP 197

-59.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$2.21 DOP 129

-39.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$5.89 DOP 343

39.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.33 DOP 77.4

-8.27%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$26.9K DOP 1.6M

-20.73%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$29.3K DOP 1.7M

-23.05%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$75.1 DOP 4,378

-5.89%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$25.36 DOP 1,479

-44.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$36.58 DOP 2,133

-52.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.97 DOP 407

-15.06%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$268 DOP 15.6K

15.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$8,133 DOP 474.2K

82.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$61.1 DOP 3,562

-8.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$52.2 DOP 3,045

-50.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$96.8 DOP 5,647

-14.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$115 DOP 6,708

-38.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$200 DOP 11.7K

19.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$3,735 DOP 217.8K

-48.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.9

-61.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Azua: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Chiang Mai vs $52.0 in Azua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $251 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 Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Chiang Mai and $1,335 in Azua 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Azua. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Chiang Mai versus $890 in Azua – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chiang Mai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Chiang Mai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Azua, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Azua 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 Chiang Mai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Azua. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.