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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,198 in Crooked Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,506 in Crooked Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,814 in Crooked Island, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 61% cheaper than Crooked Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Crooked Island is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$50.2 BSD 50.2

-96.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$12.85 BSD 12.85

-38.37%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.97 BSD 3.97

-51.89%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$3.98 BSD 3.98

-78.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$2.05 BSD 2.05

-82.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$5.05 BSD 5.05

-56.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$5.11 BSD 5.11

-25.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$7.84 BSD 7.84

-79.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$5.83 BSD 5.83

-72.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.59 BSD 3.59

-67.13%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$11.55 BSD 11.55

-82.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$13.04 BSD 13.04

21.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$7.92 BSD 7.92

35.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$6.41 BSD 6.41

-59.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.27 BSD 1.27

33.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$11.91 BSD 11.91

-86.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.14 BSD 2.14

-38.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.89 BSD 2.89

-59.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.02 BSD 1.02

-34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.96 BSD 1.96

-71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$30.30 BSD 30.30

-39.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$4.86 BSD 4.86

-62.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.89 BSD 4.89

-33.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.02 BSD 2.02

-33.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$217 BSD 217

-67.74%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$60.3 BSD 60.3

-77.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$71.2 BSD 71.2

-75.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$78.7 BSD 78.7

-30.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$49.53 BSD 49.53

-47.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$249 BSD 249

-66.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$101 BSD 101

-31.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$542 BSD 542

-21.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$549 BSD 549

-56.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,571 BSD 1,571

-47.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,583 BSD 1,583

-67.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,091 BSD 1,091

-41.79%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Crooked Island: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $542 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 72% 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 158% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,296 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $2,198 in Crooked Island. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 102% 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 $852, than in Crooked Island at $2,198. 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 $852 versus $2,198 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.