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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,094 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,634 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,174 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 21% cheaper than Fushe-kruje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Fushe-kruje are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Fushe-kruje 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$9.21 ALL 752

-78.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$37.06 ALL 3,028

-49.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.87 ALL 561

12.81%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.88 ALL 154

2.13%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.65 ALL 135

-52.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.86 ALL 70.6

-58.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.29 ALL 187

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.20 ALL 262

14.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.97 ALL 161

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.93 ALL 75.8

75.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.99 ALL 163

-40.20%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.90 ALL 237

-31.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$10.16 ALL 830

57.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.99 ALL 652

-62.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$13.13 ALL 1,073

-17.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.69 ALL 138

63.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.42 ALL 198

-51.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.73 ALL 141

-5.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.39 ALL 114

9.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.00 ALL 81.9

38.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.20 ALL 97.9

-0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.10 ALL 90.3

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.77 ALL 63.1

-27.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.11 ALL 336

11.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$9.82 ALL 802

68.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.64 ALL 134

11.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.74 ALL 142

83.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.45 ALL 36.60

95.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$18.71 ALL 1,529

0.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$3.60 ALL 294

-62.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.09 ALL 252

-56.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.94 ALL 1,466

-56.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$2.17 ALL 177

-43.32%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$35.0K ALL 2.9M

-38.15%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$25.5K ALL 2.1M

-11.65%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$68.0 ALL 5,557

3.70%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$17.69 ALL 1,445

-22.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$16.19 ALL 1,323

7.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$55.4 ALL 4,529

-25.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$24.84 ALL 2,029

-71.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$8.08 ALL 660

-28.59%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$157 ALL 12.8K

95.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,477 ALL 447.5K

166.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$47.13 ALL 3,850

18.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$51.0 ALL 4,170

-48.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$92.5 ALL 7,557

-7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$131 ALL 10.7K

-44.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$453 ALL 37.0K

-5.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$339 ALL 27.7K

-29.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$599 ALL 49.0K

36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$442 ALL 36.1K

15.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,238 ALL 182.9K

-11.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,290 ALL 105.4K

15.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Fushe-kruje: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $453 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Fushe-kruje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $246 – 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 26% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,641 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $157 in Fushe-kruje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $869, than in Fushe-kruje at $1,094. 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 $869 versus $1,094 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.