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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 39.4% cheaper than Forster without rent, and 58.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 42.7% cheaper than Forster without rent, and 55.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$16.04 A$24.57
-87.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$77.4 A$119
-75.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.18 A$12.53
-6.23%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.27 A$5.01
-39.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.48 A$3.81
-66.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.01 A$3.08
-83.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.34 A$9.71
-66.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.1 A$7.82
-26.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1 A$1.53
64.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.67 A$4.09
-41.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.34 A$3.58
-49.15%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.89 A$4.42
-31.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.97 A$13.74
78.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.36 A$9.74
-50.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.83 A$21.19
-19.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.85 A$4.37
-3.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.97 A$3.02
-38.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.97 A$3.02
-13.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.46 A$6.83
-65.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.6 A$2.46
-16.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$0.94 A$1.44
28.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.94 A$2.97
-62.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.3 A$2
-59.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$32.8 A$50.3
-85.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.15 A$20.15
39.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$4.66 A$7.14
-61.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$5.5 A$8.42
-41.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.67 A$4.09
-64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$64.5 A$98.8
-70.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.85 A$5.9
-63.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.62 A$2.48
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$52.7 A$80.7
-85.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.14 A$1.74
9.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$29.1K A$44.6K
-27.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.8K A$34.9K
-4.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$66.2 A$101
6.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$24.01 A$36.79
-42.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$51.9 A$79.5
-66.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$49.31 A$75.5
-15.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$15.68 A$24.02
-55.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$12.3 A$18.85
-52.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$330 A$506
-6.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$3,865 A$5,921
280.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$65.5 A$100
-15.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$58.3 A$89.3
-54.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$95.7 A$147
-11.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$133 A$204
-45.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,247 A$1,911
-65.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,071 A$1,640
-78.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,027 A$3,106
-59.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,668 A$2,555
-70.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,680 A$8,702
-61.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$4,550 A$6,970
-66.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Forster
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$3,233 A$4,953
-78.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.34
-21.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Forster: October 28, 2025

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