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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Ellerton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,117 in Ellerton, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,484 in Ellerton, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Ellerton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ellerton are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ellerton 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$7.62 BBD 15.25

-73.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$5.14 BBD 10.28

52.92%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$0.99 BBD 1.97

105.05%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.72 BBD 3.44

-53.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.26 BBD 2.53

-72.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.74 BBD 3.47

22.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.26 BBD 4.52

62.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.97 BBD 3.94

-12.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.83 BBD 3.66

-14.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$1.91 BBD 3.81

-52.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.87 BBD 39.74

-6.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$25.39 BBD 50.8

-94.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$50.7K BBD 101.4K

-57.70%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$45.6K BBD 91.2K

-52.14%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$98.3 BBD 197

-27.41%

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

$14.01 ฿467

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$79.3 BBD 159

-77.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.82 BBD 19.64

-41.75%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$60.3 BBD 121

-7.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$34.72 BBD 69.4

-25.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$69.0 BBD 138

22.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$84.3 BBD 169

-15.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$300 BBD 601

40.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$252 BBD 504

-3.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$745 BBD 1,490

6.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$598 BBD 1,197

-15.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ellerton: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $300 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 14% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,126 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $751 in Ellerton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 542% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $751 in Ellerton, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ellerton costs $751 versus $852 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.