Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fushe-kruje Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fushe-kruje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,127 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,703 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,278 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Fushe-kruje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Fushe-kruje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Fushe-kruje 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.20 ALL 808

-79.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$39.70 ALL 3,146

-50.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.51 ALL 595

-24.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.98 ALL 157

-8.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.98 ALL 157

-61.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.66 ALL 52.4

-46.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.57 ALL 203

-14.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.45 ALL 273

9.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$2.08 ALL 165

-1.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.96 ALL 75.8

57.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.17 ALL 172

-35.48%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.65 ALL 210

-14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.67 ALL 845

51.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$8.93 ALL 708

-67.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.40 ALL 1,142

-34.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.94 ALL 154

38.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.36 ALL 187

-53.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.72 ALL 137

-5.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.62 ALL 128

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.04 ALL 82.2

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.33 ALL 105

-20.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.17 ALL 92.5

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.81 ALL 64.2

-34.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.38 ALL 347

-3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$10.17 ALL 806

79.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.76 ALL 139

-7.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.92 ALL 152

51.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.50 ALL 39.53

76.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$20.03 ALL 1,587

168.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$3.88 ALL 307

-69.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$3.83 ALL 303

-84.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$19.21 ALL 1,523

-87.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$2.16 ALL 171

-32.87%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$34.4K ALL 2.7M

-38.88%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$25.9K ALL 2.0M

2.18%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$63.2 ALL 5,010

0.70%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$16.90 ALL 1,339

-23.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$17.40 ALL 1,379

17.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$51.4 ALL 4,074

-24.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$8.54 ALL 677

-22.95%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$101 ALL 8,026

674.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$8,200 ALL 649.8K

78.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$50.7 ALL 4,014

8.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$47.10 ALL 3,733

-47.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$101 ALL 8,032

-7.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$114 ALL 9,014

-34.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$522 ALL 41.4K

-6.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$335 ALL 26.6K

-14.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$785 ALL 62.2K

13.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$528 ALL 41.8K

-1.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,752 ALL 138.9K

12.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,105 ALL 87.6K

30.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Fushe-kruje: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $522 in Fushe-kruje. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Fushe-kruje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $261 – 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 Fushe-kruje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fushe-kruje costs about 21% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,691 in Fushe-kruje. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $101 in Fushe-kruje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Fushe-kruje, 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 $932, than in Fushe-kruje at $1,127. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fushe-kruje it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,127 in Fushe-kruje. 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, Fushe-kruje makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.