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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $623 in Chilanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $989 in Chilanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,355 in Chilanga, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 52% more than Chilanga, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Chilanga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Chilanga 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$5.68 ZMW 109

-63.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$31.47 ZMW 601

-37.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$5.41 ZMW 103

4.44%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$2.92 ZMW 55.7

-38.01%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.79 ZMW 15.18

-10.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.52 ZMW 9.87

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.34 ZMW 25.58

67.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.33 ZMW 44.58

55.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.75 ZMW 33.33

12.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$1.27 ZMW 24.23

18.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$2.19 ZMW 41.81

-38.81%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$2.02 ZMW 38.53

11.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$10.60 ZMW 203

53.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.33 ZMW 121

-53.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$6.82 ZMW 130

45.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$3.95 ZMW 75.4

-34.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$2.55 ZMW 48.78

-58.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$3.95 ZMW 75.5

-59.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$1.63 ZMW 31.11

-6.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$2.73 ZMW 52.1

-53.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$2.10 ZMW 40.03

-49.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$1.15 ZMW 21.94

-37.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.76 ZMW 14.60

-32.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.12 ZMW 59.5

34.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$10.64 ZMW 203

67.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.55 ZMW 29.63

9.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.48 ZMW 47.40

14.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$2.61 ZMW 49.88

-52.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$1.43 ZMW 27.34

-59.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$5.37 ZMW 103

-54.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$1.63 ZMW 31.04

-13.50%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$7,864 ZMW 150.2K

172.67%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$33.9K ZMW 647.2K

-19.34%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$84.1 ZMW 1,605

-24.25%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$10.88 ZMW 208

18.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$57.5 ZMW 1,097

-64.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.28 ZMW 120

7.32%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$142 ZMW 2,721

446.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$16.5K ZMW 315.3K

-11.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$25.60 ZMW 489

112.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$15.43 ZMW 295

64.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$45.59 ZMW 871

106.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$77.3 ZMW 1,476

-4.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-80.79%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chilanga: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Chilanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $250 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 52% more than Chilanga, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $934 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $31.00 in Chilanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chilanga, where all-in costs run around $623, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Chilanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chilanga costs $623 versus $947 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.