😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $585 in Chirchiq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $974 in Chirchiq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,363 in Chirchiq, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 59% more than Chirchiq, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Chirchiq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Chirchiq57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.4
$6.64UZS 78.6K
-68.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿654
$34.01UZS 402.6K
-42.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$4.94UZS 58.4K
14.78%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.2
$2.57UZS 30.4K
-29.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.60
$0.68UZS 8,085
13.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.50
$0.27UZS 3,154
29.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.8
$1.57UZS 18.5K
40.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$3.40UZS 40.2K
11.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.2
$1.25UZS 14.8K
64.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.5
$0.83UZS 9,807
81.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.61
$1.64UZS 19.5K
-14.63%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.2
$1.82UZS 21.6K
24.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$8.52UZS 100.8K
90.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.5
$4.39UZS 52.0K
-33.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$12.85UZS 152.0K
-26.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.2
$1.55UZS 18.3K
72.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.31
$1.82UZS 21.6K
-40.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.9
$2.43UZS 28.7K
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.66
$1.72UZS 20.3K
-15.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.57
$0.57UZS 6,696
124.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.25
$0.41UZS 4,862
158.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.90
$1.07UZS 12.6K
-32.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.53
$0.45UZS 5,355
17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$1.98UZS 23.4K
113.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿610
$7.54UZS 89.2K
142.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.3
$1.38UZS 16.3K
18.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.7
$3.65UZS 43.2K
-20.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.26
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,791
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.07
$0.88UZS 10.4K
32.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.26
$0.36UZS 4,265
61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.5
$3.36UZS 39.8K
-28.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.32
$1.10UZS 13.1K
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿700.1K
$17.1KUZS 202.6M
22.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿880.5K
$25.0KUZS 295.7M
5.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,121
$66.3UZS 784.2K
-3.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$4.49UZS 53.2K
187.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿684
$13.65UZS 161.6K
50.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,300
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$5.79UZS 68.5K
13.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$325UZS 3.8M
141.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿488.9K
$9,723UZS 115.1M
50.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,836
$53.0UZS 626.8K
4.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿824
$60.9UZS 721.2K
-59.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,136
$109UZS 1.3M
-13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,464
$138UZS 1.6M
-46.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,602
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Chirchiq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
23.31
-76.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chirchiq: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Chirchiq. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $199 in Chirchiq – so Chirchiq 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 Chirchiq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Chirchiq?
Chiang Mai costs about 59% more than Chirchiq, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Chirchiq?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $878 in Chirchiq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Chirchiq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $34.00 in Chirchiq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Chirchiq?
Groceries cost about 21% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Chirchiq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chirchiq, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Chirchiq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Chirchiq?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chirchiq costs $585 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Chirchiq?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Chirchiq?
If budget matters most, go with Chirchiq. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared