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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,143 in Falmouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,849 in Falmouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,554 in Falmouth, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Falmouth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Falmouth are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Falmouth 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.2

$7.48 JMD 1,178

-72.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿629

$63.4 JMD 9,988

-70.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿263

$8.90 JMD 1,401

-11.91%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.7

$4.24 JMD 668

-54.48%

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

$0.83 ฿27.92

$1.31 JMD 206

-36.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.77

$0.76 JMD 120

-53.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.6

$2.57 JMD 405

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.16 JMD 497

19.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.3

$4.38 JMD 690

-62.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.1

$3.54 JMD 557

-56.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.69

$1.62 JMD 255

-27.16%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.7

$3.44 JMD 541

-41.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿543

$11.16 JMD 1,758

44.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$6.48 JMD 1,020

-53.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿364

$7.52 JMD 1,184

44.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$5.95 JMD 937

-54.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.03

$3.08 JMD 485

-60.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.6

$4.21 JMD 662

-61.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.3

$2.95 JMD 464

-48.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$2.01 JMD 316

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.75

$1.95 JMD 308

-37.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.57

$3.00 JMD 473

-76.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.65

$1.50 JMD 237

-64.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿157

$8.97 JMD 1,412

-47.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿595

$11.50 JMD 1,810

54.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.0

$2.76 JMD 434

-32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$3.04 JMD 479

5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.27

$1.13 JMD 178

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.40

$3.14 JMD 495

-58.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.12 JMD 964

27.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.47

$1.23 JMD 194

4.88%

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

$21.8K ฿731.4K

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-49.97%

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

$21.7K ฿728.8K

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-35.13%

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

$70.0 ฿2,351

$166 JMD 26.2K

-57.95%

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

$14.19 ฿477

$22.37 JMD 3,523

-36.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿585

$51.8 JMD 8,162

-66.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,399

$28.39 JMD 4,471

46.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿194

$13.03 JMD 2,051

-55.64%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$229 JMD 36.1K

30.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿487.9K

$2,510 JMD 395.2K

478.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,860

$25.74 JMD 4,053

115.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿884

$25.35 JMD 3,992

3.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,851

$72.1 JMD 11.3K

17.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,368

$75.7 JMD 11.9K

-6.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$308 JMD 48.5K

38.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,898

$251 JMD 39.5K

-6.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$530 JMD 83.4K

51.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.3K

$462 JMD 72.8K

11.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026

Last update for Falmouth: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $308 in Falmouth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $63.0 in Falmouth. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $351 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Falmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Falmouth costs about 35% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,714 in Falmouth. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $63.0 in Falmouth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Falmouth, 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 $847, than in Falmouth at $1,143. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Falmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,143 in Falmouth. 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, Falmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.