Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Can Tho Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Can Tho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $663 in Can Tho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,182 in Can Tho, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,700 in Can Tho, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Can Tho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Can Tho are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Can Tho 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$1.13 ₫29.8K

73.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$22.88 ₫600.2K

-17.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$3.53 ₫92.7K

124.36%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$0.98 ₫25.7K

94.90%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.49 ₫12.9K

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.30 ₫7,989

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.00 ₫26.3K

121.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.13 ₫29.7K

236.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.35 ₫35.5K

21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.99 ₫25.9K

63.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$0.74 ₫19.3K

59.46%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.36 ₫35.6K

47.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$11.67 ₫306.1K

36.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.74 ₫98.2K

-19.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$10.60 ₫278.1K

1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.68 ₫70.2K

-2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.14 ₫30.0K

7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.36 ₫35.6K

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.81 ₫21.2K

95.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.73 ₫19.2K

80.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.93 ₫24.4K

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.71 ₫18.7K

-5.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.51 ₫13.5K

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.27 ₫33.4K

256.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.61 ₫199.7K

139.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.86 ₫22.5K

112.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.48 ₫38.7K

118.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.35 ₫9,074

154.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$6.55 ₫171.9K

195.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.48 ₫12.7K

181.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.57 ₫15.0K

136.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$3.15 ₫82.6K

161.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.89 ₫23.4K

42.70%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$37.9K ₫994.3M

-44.18%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.6K ₫906.5M

-34.92%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$49.22 ₫1.3M

42.52%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$3.89 ₫101.9K

253.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$9.10 ₫238.7K

93.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$21.50 ₫564.1K

93.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$7.85 ₫206.1K

-15.92%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$3.31 ₫86.9K

74.62%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$190 ₫5.0M

61.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,904 ₫181.1M

114.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$18.84 ₫494.3K

188.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$19.48 ₫511.2K

34.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$97.7 ₫2.6M

-13.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$87.2 ₫2.3M

-20.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$357 ₫9.4M

18.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$243 ₫6.4M

-2.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$695 ₫18.2M

18.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$675 ₫17.7M

-23.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$3,129 ₫82.1M

-34.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,236 ₫32.4M

23.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$159 ₫4.2M

300.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

-45.30%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Can Tho: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $357 in Can Tho. 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 301% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $23.00 in Can Tho. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $183 in Can Tho – so Can Tho 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 Can Tho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 29%, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $995 in Can Tho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $23.00 in Can Tho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $663 in Can Tho, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Can Tho – 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 Can Tho. 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.