Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chon Buri Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Chon Buri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $756 in Chon Buri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,289 in Chon Buri, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,821 in Chon Buri, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Chon Buri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Chon Buri are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Chon Buri 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$1.99 ฿64.8

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.81 ฿614

-0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.05 ฿197

29.26%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.89 ฿61.8

3.17%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.63 ฿20.60

34.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.48 ฿15.57

-27.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.82 ฿59.4

17.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.67 ฿120

1.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.41 ฿46.15

21.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.42 ฿46.40

14.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.06 ฿34.78

7.55%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.92 ฿62.8

0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.23 ฿432

22.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.03 ฿66.1

53.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.70 ฿349

1.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.43 ฿79.3

13.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.76 ฿24.72

59.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.80 ฿58.7

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.56 ฿50.8

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.61 ฿52.5

-13.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.22 ฿39.77

-4.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.81 ฿26.35

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.46 ฿14.94

15.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.73 ฿154

-0.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$14.85 ฿485

25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.67 ฿54.6

7.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.64 ฿119

-11.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.94 ฿30.64

-4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.06 ฿34.54

33.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.77 ฿24.99

67.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.53 ฿181

41.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.35 ฿44.19

-5.93%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$19.9K ฿649.4K

7.01%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$21.1K ฿689.6K

5.20%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$73.1 ฿2,387

-5.49%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.89 ฿421

9.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$18.54 ฿605

-2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$48.45 ฿1,582

-15.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.29 ฿401

-43.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$3.06 ฿100.0

93.46%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$141 ฿4,589

112.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$16.0K ฿521.7K

-6.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$19.51 ฿637

180.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$24.30 ฿794

10.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$61.5 ฿2,009

38.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$58.4 ฿1,906

20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$529 ฿17.3K

-19.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$217 ฿7,093

9.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$810 ฿26.5K

-1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$665 ฿21.7K

-22.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$814 ฿26.6K

81.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$608 ฿19.8K

1.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

-18.96%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chon Buri: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $529 in Chon Buri. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Chon Buri. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Chon Buri – so Chon Buri 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 Chon Buri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Chon Buri, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,133 in Chon Buri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chon Buri, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $19.00 in Chon Buri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $756 in Chon Buri, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chon Buri costs $756 versus $866 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 Chon Buri. 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.