Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Crooked Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Crooked Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,138 in Crooked Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,461 in Crooked Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,784 in Crooked Island, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Crooked Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Crooked Island is 59% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$50.6 BSD 50.6

-96.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$13.10 BSD 13.10

-40.84%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.09 BSD 4.09

-53.06%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$3.96 BSD 3.96

-80.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.04 BSD 2.04

-82.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$5.05 BSD 5.05

-56.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.13 BSD 5.13

-28.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$8.11 BSD 8.11

-79.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$6.02 BSD 6.02

-72.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$3.53 BSD 3.53

-66.29%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$11.62 BSD 11.62

-82.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$13.21 BSD 13.21

20.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.94 BSD 7.94

36.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$6.37 BSD 6.37

-56.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.28 BSD 1.28

28.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$11.87 BSD 11.87

-87.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.21 BSD 2.21

-37.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.92 BSD 2.92

-59.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.98 BSD 0.98

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$2.01 BSD 2.01

-72.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$29.91 BSD 29.91

-44.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$5.03 BSD 5.03

-63.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$4.97 BSD 4.97

-35.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.03 BSD 2.03

-33.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$216 BSD 216

-67.38%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$60.1 BSD 60.1

-77.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$69.1 BSD 69.1

-74.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$79.5 BSD 79.5

-29.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$50.7 BSD 50.7

-48.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$247 BSD 247

-65.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$102 BSD 102

-28.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$547 BSD 547

-21.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$541 BSD 541

-55.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,594 BSD 1,594

-48.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,626 BSD 1,626

-68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,095 BSD 1,095

-43.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Crooked Island: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $547 in Crooked Island. 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 77% higher in Crooked Island, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Crooked Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Crooked Island costs about 146% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,207 in Crooked Island. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $869 in Chiang Mai and $2,138 in Crooked Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 106% more in Crooked Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Crooked Island at $2,138. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crooked Island it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,138 in Crooked Island. 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, Crooked Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.