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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,087 in Elazig, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,668 in Elazig, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,249 in Elazig, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Elazig, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Elazig are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Elazig 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿65.0
$7.60 ₺350
-73.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿619
$30.83 ₺1,422
-39.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿255
$7.45 ₺344
4.03%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿63.2
$2.81 ₺130
-31.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿26.07
$1.30 ₺59.8
-39.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.74
$0.46 ₺21.41
-21.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.9
$3.52 ₺162
-37.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$3.83 ₺177
-4.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿54.4
$0.95 ₺43.63
73.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.7
$0.79 ₺36.50
106.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.28
$2.19 ₺101
-45.66%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.8
$1.88 ₺86.6
6.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿526
$9.37 ₺432
70.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$5.72 ₺264
-47.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿357
$19.39 ₺894
-43.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.9
$1.25 ₺57.6
120.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.83
$2.15 ₺99.0
-45.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.0
$1.09 ₺50.4
50.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.0
$1.32 ₺60.9
15.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.59
$0.73 ₺33.59
89.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.25
$0.63 ₺29.24
88.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.11
$0.91 ₺42.00
-23.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.49 ₺22.48
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿151
$2.10 ₺96.7
118.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿545
$10.95 ₺505
51.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$2.17 ₺99.9
-15.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿105
$3.14 ₺145
1.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.87
$0.63 ₺29.07
39.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿616
$30.20 ₺1,392
-38.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$1.09 ₺50.1
24.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.12
$0.65 ₺30.06
106.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿258
$7.58 ₺349
3.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.35
$1.21 ₺56.0
1.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿711.8K
$43.1K ₺2.0M
-49.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿742.2K
$43.0K ₺2.0M
-47.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,322
$61.4 ₺2,829
14.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿450
$10.66 ₺491
28.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿574
$13.02 ₺600
34.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,361
$42.91 ₺1,978
-3.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿229
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿190
$5.61 ₺259
2.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.1K
$618 ₺28.5K
-50.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿481.0K
$8,864 ₺408.6K
64.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,837
$52.0 ₺2,398
7.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿863
$44.43 ₺2,048
-41.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,823
$101 ₺4,667
-15.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,378
$91.2 ₺4,203
-20.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.1K
$518 ₺23.9K
-17.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,857
$393 ₺18.1K
-39.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.9K
$902 ₺41.6K
-9.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.8K
$708 ₺32.6K
-27.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿65.3K
$1,496 ₺69.0K
32.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.9K
$818 ₺37.7K
81.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Elazig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.4K
$918 ₺42.3K
-32.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
36.83
-86.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Elazig: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $518 in Elazig. 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 48% higher in Elazig, 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 $31.00 in Elazig. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $231 in Elazig – so Elazig 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 Elazig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Elazig?
Elazig costs about 25% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Elazig?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,631 in Elazig. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Elazig?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Elazig?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $618 in Elazig. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Elazig?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Elazig – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Elazig?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Elazig at $1,087. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elazig it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Elazig?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,087 in Elazig. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Elazig?
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 Elazig?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elazig makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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