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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Chiang Mai versus $278 in Carriacou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Chiang Mai versus $531 in Carriacou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Chiang Mai versus $785 in Carriacou.

Living in Chiang Mai is roughly 236% more expensive than in Carriacou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiang Mai 32% lower, Carriacou 80% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.5
$15.03 EC$40.59
-86.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿655
$43.91 EC$119
-55.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$9.16 EC$24.73
-38.10%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$3.00 EC$8.09
-39.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.65
$2.26 EC$6.10
-65.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.53
$1.28 EC$3.45
-72.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.9
$2.24 EC$6.05
-1.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿127
$3.61 EC$9.76
4.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.4
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.6
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.69
-
-
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.4
$5.66 EC$15.29
-60.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿540
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.7
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿314
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.4
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.37
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.0
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.74
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.65
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.31
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.94
$1.14 EC$3.07
-36.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.56
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿611
$14.59 EC$39.40
25.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.4
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,795
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿39.14
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.30
$1.89 EC$5.11
-69.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.6
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.41
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿701.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿882.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,125
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿430
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿685
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,302
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.2K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿489.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,840
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿826
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,142
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,469
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,620
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.9K
$567 EC$1,532
247.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Carriacou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Carriacou: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Chiang Mai vs $44.00 in Carriacou. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $56.0, with Carriacou cheaper for home cooking.

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 Carriacou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carriacou cheaper than Chiang Mai?
Carriacou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 236% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,398 in Chiang Mai and $417 in Carriacou 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.
How do food prices compare in Chiang Mai and in Carriacou?
Supermarket bills run roughly 327% higher in Chiang Mai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiang Mai or in Carriacou?
Dining out is cheaper in Carriacou – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiang Mai or in Carriacou?
At $278 in Carriacou versus $932 in Chiang Mai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Carriacou but tight or insufficient in Chiang Mai. The gap between the two cities makes Carriacou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Chiang Mai or Carriacou more family-friendly?
For families, Carriacou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chiang Mai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Chiang Mai or Carriacou?
Safety-wise, Chiang Mai and Carriacou are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Carriacou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Chiang Mai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities