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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 7.2% more expensive than Chiang Rai without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 1.1% more expensive than Chiang Rai without rent, and 3.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$1.98 ฿62.3
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$15.14 ฿476
22.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$6.22 ฿196
20.26%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$1.48 ฿46.41
35.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.56 ฿17.68
51.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$0.28 ฿8.75
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$1.82 ฿57.3
21.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$3.67 ฿115
2.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.65 ฿52.0
4.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$1.62 ฿51.0
0.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$1.14 ฿35.69
1.75%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$1.95 ฿61.3
1.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$15.98 ฿502
-0.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$3.10 ฿97.6
2.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$10.98 ฿345
-0.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$2.55 ฿80.2
3.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$1.01 ฿31.69
20.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$1.64 ฿51.5
3.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$0.94 ฿29.41
69.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$1.40 ฿43.98
-5.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$1.12 ฿35.12
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$0.66 ฿20.74
3.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$0.52 ฿16.37
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$3.78 ฿119
19.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$19.09 ฿600
-0.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$1.86 ฿58.4
-4.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$3.26 ฿103
-2.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.80 ฿25.16
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
$22.77 ฿716
-17.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$1.41 ฿44.26
-3.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$1.30 ฿41.00
3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$8.24 ฿259
-2.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$1.28 ฿40.19
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$20.1K ฿631.5K
5.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$22.4K ฿705.8K
-3.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$48.56 ฿1,527
46.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$13.91 ฿437
1.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$15.11 ฿475
15.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$48.77 ฿1,533
-13.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
$12.43 ฿391
-44.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$3.61 ฿114
64.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$307 ฿9,654
0.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$7,823 ฿246.0K
89.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$56.4 ฿1,772
-1.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$26.66 ฿838
0.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$71.9 ฿2,261
15.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$71.5 ฿2,247
-1.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$271 ฿8,531
57.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$255 ฿8,021
-7.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$765 ฿24.0K
4.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$502 ฿15.8K
0.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
$2,029 ฿63.8K
1.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
$1,009 ฿31.7K
51.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$636 ฿20.0K
2.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Rai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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