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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $989 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,477 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,964 in Calarasi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Calarasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$10.06 RON 45.46

-80.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$27.26 RON 123

-31.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.71 RON 34.86

1.43%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.65 RON 11.97

-26.42%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.53 RON 6.92

-44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.79 RON 8.11

-80.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.24 RON 10.12

-4.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.52 RON 15.91

5.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.34 RON 6.08

27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.09 RON 4.91

49.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.77 RON 7.98

-35.59%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.40 RON 15.35

-43.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.50 RON 38.41

90.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.12 RON 32.20

-56.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.15 RON 41.35

19.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.18 RON 5.31

133.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.47 RON 6.66

-17.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.33 RON 6.02

21.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.91 RON 8.62

-16.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.75 RON 3.37

86.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.95 RON 4.31

23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.71 RON 3.20

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.80 RON 3.62

-33.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$5.71 RON 25.79

-17.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.48 RON 20.27

316.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.98 RON 4.45

83.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.42 RON 6.42

127.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.45 RON 2.03

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$14.09 RON 63.7

36.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.67 RON 3.03

110.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.66 RON 2.97

95.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.62 RON 25.39

39.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.54 RON 6.98

-17.53%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$25.4K RON 114.7K

-16.13%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.4K RON 123.9K

-18.94%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$148 RON 669

-53.31%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.65 RON 39.09

62.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$7.62 RON 34.44

136.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$68.6 RON 310

-40.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$19.52 RON 88.2

-64.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.92 RON 26.77

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

$299 ฿9,766

$424 RON 1,915

-29.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,966 RON 31.5K

114.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$81.3 RON 367

-32.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$42.81 RON 194

-37.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$75.6 RON 342

12.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$96.8 RON 437

-27.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$391 RON 1,768

9.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$228 RON 1,032

3.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$599 RON 2,709

33.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$369 RON 1,666

39.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,236 RON 5,587

59.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$986 RON 4,458

49.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$773 RON 3,495

-20.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

-24.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $391 in Calarasi. 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 25% higher in Calarasi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Calarasi. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $196 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

Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Chiang Mai, $989 in Calarasi – roughly 14% apart. Calarasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,484 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $424 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Calarasi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $989 in Calarasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $866 in Chiang Mai to $989 in Calarasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Calarasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.