Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fort Wellington Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fort Wellington

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,002 in Fort Wellington, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,677 in Fort Wellington, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,352 in Fort Wellington, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 5% cheaper than Fort Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Fort Wellington are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Fort Wellington 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.4

$17.91 GYD 3,725

-88.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$71.6 GYD 14.9K

-72.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿192

$9.60 GYD 1,996

-39.69%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.5

$5.69 GYD 1,183

-67.84%

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

$0.78 ฿25.63

$1.21 GYD 251

-35.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.38

$0.65 GYD 135

-52.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.3

$1.86 GYD 387

25.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.38 GYD 704

9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$3.16 GYD 657

-35.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.8

$2.07 GYD 430

-22.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.80

$2.01 GYD 417

-29.35%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.0

$4.00 GYD 831

-45.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$15.73 GYD 3,273

1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.86 GYD 1,426

-55.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$8.82 GYD 1,835

11.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.9

$8.19 GYD 1,702

-67.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.23

$3.85 GYD 801

-71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.9

$4.11 GYD 854

-60.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$7.21 GYD 1,500

-78.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.16

$2.37 GYD 492

-47.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.40

$3.12 GYD 649

-63.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.41

$2.99 GYD 623

-75.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.50

$1.63 GYD 338

-69.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿142

$3.27 GYD 680

30.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$16.97 GYD 3,529

5.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.2

$1.80 GYD 374

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$2.52 GYD 524

15.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,828

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.80

$4.39 GYD 914

-71.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.67

$2.45 GYD 510

-78.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.4

$12.03 GYD 2,502

-80.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.60

$1.03 GYD 215

39.81%

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

$21.2K ฿700.9K

$27.2K GYD 5.7M

-22.01%

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

$27.3K ฿903.0K

$23.1K GYD 4.8M

17.99%

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

$64.9 ฿2,147

$119 GYD 24.7K

-45.27%

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

$13.35 ฿442

$21.22 GYD 4,414

-37.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿689

$42.79 GYD 8,899

-51.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,337

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.40 GYD 1,331

4.84%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$1,009 GYD 209.8K

-21.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿500.1K

$18.9K GYD 3.9M

-19.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,859

$37.63 GYD 7,826

49.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿825

$41.65 GYD 8,661

-40.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,066

$134 GYD 27.8K

-30.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,484

$85.8 GYD 17.8K

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,500

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$967 GYD 201.1K

-37.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.94

-19.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Fort Wellington: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 60% higher in Fort Wellington, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $72.0 in Fort Wellington. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $394 – 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 Fort Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Wellington costs about 5% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,503 in Fort Wellington. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $72.0 in Fort Wellington. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Fort Wellington, 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 $950, than in Fort Wellington at $1,002. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Wellington it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,002 in Fort Wellington. 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, Fort Wellington makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.