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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,167 in Falmouth, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,849 in Falmouth, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,531 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 35% lower, Falmouth 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$7.14 JMD 1,123

-72.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$62.6 JMD 9,853

-69.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$8.88 JMD 1,396

-12.73%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$4.44 JMD 699

-56.76%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$1.38 JMD 216

-42.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.75 JMD 117

-52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$2.48 JMD 391

-10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$3.16 JMD 496

15.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$4.44 JMD 698

-62.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$3.59 JMD 564

-54.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$1.63 JMD 257

-26.99%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$3.57 JMD 562

-43.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$11.09 JMD 1,744

44.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$6.33 JMD 996

-52.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$7.77 JMD 1,223

39.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$6.10 JMD 960

-54.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$3.05 JMD 479

-61.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$4.34 JMD 682

-62.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$2.91 JMD 457

-47.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$2.03 JMD 319

-32.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$1.94 JMD 305

-38.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$2.99 JMD 470

-76.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.46 JMD 229

-61.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$8.92 JMD 1,403

-48.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$11.60 JMD 1,824

42.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$2.88 JMD 453

-36.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$3.06 JMD 481

4.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$1.13 JMD 178

20.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$3.13 JMD 492

-57.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$6.13 JMD 965

27.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.91%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

-49.19%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$33.5K JMD 5.3M

-32.75%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$163 JMD 25.7K

-56.76%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$22.15 JMD 3,484

-38.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$50.9 JMD 7,999

-65.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$28.51 JMD 4,484

44.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$13.05 JMD 2,052

-55.79%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$223 JMD 35.1K

37.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$2,498 JMD 392.9K

484.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$25.62 JMD 4,030

117.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$25.27 JMD 3,974

3.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

21.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

-6.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$318 JMD 50.0K

35.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$255 JMD 40.2K

-6.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$533 JMD 83.8K

53.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$463 JMD 72.8K

10.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Falmouth: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $318 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: $241 vs $353 – 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 34% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,750 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 47% 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 $869, than in Falmouth at $1,167. 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 $869 versus $1,167 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.