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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,001 in Flacq, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,652 in Flacq, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,302 in Flacq, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Flacq, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Flacq are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Flacq 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$6.17 MUR 290

-68.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$44.36 MUR 2,084

-58.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.58 MUR 309

13.68%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.67 MUR 126

-24.34%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.94 MUR 44.19

-9.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.59 MUR 27.70

-38.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.39 MUR 65.1

53.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.77 MUR 130

29.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.44 MUR 67.7

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.65 MUR 30.70

141.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.34 MUR 62.8

-11.19%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.66 MUR 125

-27.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$10.04 MUR 472

61.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.08 MUR 286

-50.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.51 MUR 494

4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.98 MUR 93.0

36.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.89 MUR 88.9

-38.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.51 MUR 70.8

11.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.65 MUR 125

-39.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$0.97 MUR 45.59

42.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.00 MUR 47.11

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.81 MUR 37.86

-17.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.57 MUR 26.86

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.94 MUR 279

-21.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.71 MUR 456

81.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.75 MUR 82.1

6.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.16 MUR 101

52.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.00 MUR 47.11

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$32.44 MUR 1,524

-40.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$4.39 MUR 206

-69.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$2.62 MUR 123

-48.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$15.70 MUR 737

-47.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.45 MUR 68.0

-15.86%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$35.7K MUR 1.7M

-40.15%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$29.3K MUR 1.4M

-23.00%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$50.3 MUR 2,362

40.55%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$18.32 MUR 861

-23.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$32.73 MUR 1,538

-46.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$38.87 MUR 1,826

8.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.99 MUR 281

-1.17%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$151 MUR 7,115

103.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,973 MUR 186.7K

274.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$49.84 MUR 2,342

11.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$44.79 MUR 2,104

-41.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$83.6 MUR 3,929

-0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$77.8 MUR 3,654

-9.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$522 MUR 24.5K

-17.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$346 MUR 16.2K

-30.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$953 MUR 44.8K

-13.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$716 MUR 33.6K

-28.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$1,110 MUR 52.1K

-47.79%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Flacq: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $522 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 92% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Flacq. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $217 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 16% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,502 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 $309 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 12% 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 $861, than in Flacq at $1,001. 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 $861 versus $1,001 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.