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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $967 in Concordia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,596 in Concordia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,225 in Concordia, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Concordia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Concordia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Concordia 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$10.40 ARS 15.0K

-81.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$33.59 ARS 48.3K

-44.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$8.88 ARS 12.8K

-11.94%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$2.74 ARS 3,941

-28.83%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.70 ARS 2,449

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$1.50 ARS 2,153

-76.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.09 ARS 3,010

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.96 ARS 4,259

26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.31 ARS 1,889

30.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$1.57 ARS 2,262

3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.95 ARS 2,798

-41.54%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$2.16 ARS 3,104

-10.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$10.24 ARS 14.7K

58.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.09 ARS 8,767

-48.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.58 ARS 13.8K

13.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.01 ARS 2,887

36.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$2.16 ARS 3,101

-43.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.28 ARS 1,834

26.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$2.65 ARS 3,812

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.13 ARS 1,619

23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.25 ARS 1,797

-6.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.25 ARS 1,805

-47.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$1.42 ARS 2,040

-62.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.20 ARS 4,604

46.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$4.28 ARS 6,155

335.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.06 ARS 2,967

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.05 ARS 4,381

5.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.77 ARS 1,106

16.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.48 ARS 2,129

-4.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.86 ARS 1,237

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.02 ARS 8,660

30.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.05 ARS 1,507

20.95%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$26.9K ARS 38.7M

-20.90%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$30.0K ARS 43.2M

-26.04%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$66.9 ARS 96.2K

3.24%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.41 ARS 25.0K

-19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$22.80 ARS 32.8K

-21.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$26.41 ARS 38.0K

55.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$13.59 ARS 19.5K

-48.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.31 ARS 9,083

-6.18%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$224 ARS 321.9K

33.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$2,714 ARS 3.9M

451.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$72.5 ARS 104.3K

-24.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$68.7 ARS 98.8K

-61.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$115 ARS 165.1K

-25.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$110 ARS 157.7K

-35.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$333 ARS 478.4K

28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$235 ARS 338.3K

0.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$685 ARS 986.0K

16.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$535 ARS 769.0K

-3.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,049 ARS 2.9M

-3.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-91.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Concordia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $333 in Concordia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in Concordia. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $229 in Concordia – so Concordia 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 Concordia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Concordia costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,450 in Concordia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $34.00 in Concordia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Concordia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $967 in Concordia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $967 in Concordia. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Concordia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.