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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $370 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $597 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $824 in Calarasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Calarasi 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$11.75 MDL 202

-82.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$22.91 MDL 393

-13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.38 MDL 127

-21.54%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.44 MDL 24.64

27.08%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.78 MDL 13.34

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.44 MDL 7.62

-29.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.19 MDL 20.44

96.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.43 MDL 24.61

158.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.05 MDL 18.08

93.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.34 MDL 5.75

370.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.92 MDL 33.03

13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.01 MDL 34.45

-45.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.63 MDL 10.80

96.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.57 MDL 9.71

-12.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.19 MDL 20.49

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.63 MDL 27.89

-11.66%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$21.0K MDL 361.2K

29.72%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$60.6 MDL 1,040

7.16%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$6.98 MDL 120

91.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$10.42 MDL 179

99.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.45 MDL 59.3

94.49%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$35.31 MDL 606

59.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$34.86 MDL 598

-28.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$110 MDL 1,893

-15.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$34.17 MDL 586

119.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Calarasi. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $42.00 in Calarasi – so Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 157%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $555 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 473% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $23.00 in Calarasi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $370, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calarasi – 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 Calarasi. 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.