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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 28.3% cheaper than Emalahleni without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 29.9% cheaper than Emalahleni without rent, and 19% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$11.38 R 202

-82.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$44.8 R 797

-58.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$4.91 R 87.4

56.21%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$2.15 R 38.23

-7.91%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$1 R 17.78

-18.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$0.83 R 14.7

-60.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$2.63 R 46.79

-19.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$2.51 R 44.59

48.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.18 R 21

38.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$0.91 R 16.1

72.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$1.63 R 29.07

-26.99%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$1.98 R 35.21

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$8.09 R 144

97.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$4.2 R 74.7

-25.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$5.74 R 102

94.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$1.44 R 25.61

91.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.43 R 25.5

-14.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$1.44 R 25.57

18.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$1.38 R 24.54

12.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$1.49 R 26.53

-10.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$0.98 R 17.44

23.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.08 R 19.23

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$0.88 R 15.72

-39.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$2.64 R 47.03

78.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$5.77 R 103

218.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.19 R 21.24

50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$1.58 R 28.14

103.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$2.4 R 42.65

-60.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$119 R 2,117

-84.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$0.64 R 11.4

121.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$0.88 R 15.73

53.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$3.97 R 70.6

97.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$1.22 R 21.72

2.46%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$22K R 391.9K

-3.97%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$23.6K R 420.4K

-7.60%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$110 R 1,962

-36.00%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$40.54 R 721

-66.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$42.94 R 764

-59.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$33.89 R 603

22.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$22.33 R 397

-69.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$5.62 R 100

3.20%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$211 R 3,751

45.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$1,376 R 24.5K

968.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$50.9 R 905

8.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$33.27 R 592

-20.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$89.9 R 1,599

-5.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$78.1 R 1,389

-8.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$370 R 6,588

17.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$247 R 4,390

-4.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$688 R 12.2K

19.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$458 R 8,137

8.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$267 R 4,745

717.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$144 R 2,552

975.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$1,589 R 28.3K

-55.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.51

-56.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Emalahleni: October 28, 2025

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