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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,024 in Flacq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,626 in Flacq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,228 in Flacq, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Flacq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Flacq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Flacq 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.26 MUR 296

-69.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$43.80 MUR 2,069

-57.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.78 MUR 320

15.34%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.60 MUR 123

-25.00%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.02 MUR 48.43

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.58 MUR 27.53

-39.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.43 MUR 67.8

48.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.65 MUR 125

40.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.51 MUR 71.2

13.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.65 MUR 30.81

150.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.32 MUR 62.3

-13.64%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.73 MUR 129

-29.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.70 MUR 458

67.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.11 MUR 289

-48.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.35 MUR 489

5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.98 MUR 93.4

38.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.93 MUR 91.3

-37.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.46 MUR 68.8

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.72 MUR 129

-41.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.03 MUR 48.55

35.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.95 MUR 44.89

23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.83 MUR 39.37

-20.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.57 MUR 27.11

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.06 MUR 286

-22.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.45 MUR 399

120.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.79 MUR 84.4

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.13 MUR 100

51.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.99 MUR 46.96

-9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$33.63 MUR 1,589

-42.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$4.31 MUR 204

-67.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$2.73 MUR 129

-52.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$15.14 MUR 716

-48.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.41 MUR 66.6

-9.93%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$36.1K MUR 1.7M

-41.10%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$29.3K MUR 1.4M

-24.09%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$50.4 MUR 2,379

37.18%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.19 MUR 859

-22.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$32.29 MUR 1,526

-44.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$38.21 MUR 1,805

7.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.13 MUR 290

-3.43%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$151 MUR 7,146

97.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,889 MUR 183.8K

284.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$51.4 MUR 2,427

6.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$43.41 MUR 2,051

-38.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$83.5 MUR 3,943

1.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$78.9 MUR 3,728

-10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$508 MUR 24.0K

-15.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$353 MUR 16.7K

-32.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$953 MUR 45.1K

-15.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$710 MUR 33.5K

-27.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,139 MUR 53.8K

-45.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

-20.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Flacq: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $508 in Flacq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 85% higher in Flacq, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Flacq. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Flacq – so Flacq wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Flacq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Flacq costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,535 in Flacq. 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $151 in Flacq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Flacq – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Flacq at $1,024. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Flacq it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,024 in Flacq. 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, Flacq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.