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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $774 in Ellerton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Ellerton, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,480 in Ellerton, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Ellerton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ellerton are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ellerton 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.65 BBD 15.31

-74.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.90 BBD 9.80

58.16%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$0.99 BBD 1.98

93.94%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.77 BBD 3.53

-55.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.28 BBD 2.55

-71.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.73 BBD 3.46

27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.21 BBD 4.42

65.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.05 BBD 4.11

-19.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.88 BBD 3.75

-13.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.88 BBD 3.77

-53.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$20.29 BBD 40.58

-7.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$24.83 BBD 49.67

-94.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

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

$50.6K BBD 101.3K

-57.31%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$44.1K BBD 88.3K

-48.91%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$99.1 BBD 198

-28.81%

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$78.8 BBD 158

-77.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$10.16 BBD 20.32

-43.21%

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

$59.7 BBD 119

-6.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$35.20 BBD 70.4

-25.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$70.0 BBD 140

22.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$85.8 BBD 172

-15.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$304 BBD 609

41.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$253 BBD 506

-5.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$747 BBD 1,494

9.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$609 BBD 1,218

-16.12%

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

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 Ellerton: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $304 in Ellerton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Ellerton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Ellerton, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,161 in Ellerton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ellerton, 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 $774 in Ellerton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 513% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $774 in Ellerton, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ellerton costs $774 versus $869 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 Ellerton. 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.