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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $652 in Chilanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $976 in Chilanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,301 in Chilanga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Chilanga, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Chilanga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Chilanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.14 ZMW 130

-72.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$25.30 ZMW 460

-27.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.69 ZMW 67.1

102.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.03 ZMW 37.01

-0.49%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.73 ZMW 13.28

16.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.36 ZMW 6.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$0.92 ZMW 16.80

132.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.75 ZMW 31.94

105.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.28 ZMW 23.30

28.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.75 ZMW 13.74

109.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

-25.63%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.76 ZMW 32.11

10.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.64 ZMW 139

111.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$3.79 ZMW 68.9

-21.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$4.64 ZMW 84.4

135.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.59 ZMW 47.14

4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.60 ZMW 29.09

-26.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.82 ZMW 51.3

-40.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.13 ZMW 20.55

41.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.84 ZMW 33.45

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.32 ZMW 24.08

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.86 ZMW 15.66

-22.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.52 ZMW 9.40

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.47 ZMW 44.87

87.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.74 ZMW 195

64.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.13 ZMW 20.52

64.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.52 ZMW 27.70

117.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$2.69 ZMW 48.92

-49.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.41 ZMW 171

-12.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.24 ZMW 22.52

-1.61%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$8,084 ZMW 147.1K

164.13%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.3K ZMW 514.7K

-20.33%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$91.9 ZMW 1,672

-23.07%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$52.2 ZMW 950

-73.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$127 ZMW 2,311

-86.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.23 ZMW 77.0

39.95%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$180 ZMW 3,271

71.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$9,457 ZMW 172.1K

57.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$18.57 ZMW 338

200.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$16.71 ZMW 304

56.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$83.6 ZMW 1,521

-0.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$71.9 ZMW 1,308

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-80.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Chilanga. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $177 in Chilanga – so Chilanga 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 Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Chilanga, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $977 in Chilanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Chilanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $652 in Chilanga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chilanga costs $652 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chilanga. 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.