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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,074 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,612 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,150 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 36% lower, Fushe-kruje 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$9.61 ALL 781

-78.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$37.52 ALL 3,049

-50.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.12 ALL 579

10.39%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.93 ALL 157

5.18%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.64 ALL 133

-51.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.83 ALL 67.1

-57.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.30 ALL 187

-6.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$3.28 ALL 267

11.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$2.04 ALL 166

-15.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.87 ALL 70.4

80.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.00 ALL 162

-40.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.05 ALL 248

-35.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.61 ALL 781

68.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.67 ALL 623

-60.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$13.41 ALL 1,089

-19.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.77 ALL 144

56.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$2.47 ALL 201

-52.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.73 ALL 140

-1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$1.38 ALL 112

15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.01 ALL 82.4

37.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.24 ALL 100

-6.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.14 ALL 92.3

-42.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.76 ALL 62.0

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.94 ALL 321

18.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$10.10 ALL 820

76.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.64 ALL 133

9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.77 ALL 143

88.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.48 ALL 39.11

89.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$18.87 ALL 1,533

-1.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$3.57 ALL 290

-60.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$3.20 ALL 260

-58.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$18.00 ALL 1,462

-54.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$2.05 ALL 166

-40.00%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$34.9K ALL 2.8M

-38.66%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$25.4K ALL 2.1M

-13.98%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$68.2 ALL 5,541

4.60%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.42 ALL 1,416

-19.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$16.14 ALL 1,312

11.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$55.0 ALL 4,472

-25.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.33 ALL 2,058

-72.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$8.35 ALL 679

-31.50%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$159 ALL 12.9K

94.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$5,624 ALL 457.0K

160.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$47.55 ALL 3,864

17.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$50.1 ALL 4,071

-48.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$93.8 ALL 7,621

-9.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$130 ALL 10.5K

-45.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$459 ALL 37.3K

-7.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$346 ALL 28.1K

-29.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$611 ALL 49.6K

30.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$428 ALL 34.8K

18.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,688 ALL 137.1K

13.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,380 ALL 112.1K

6.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Fushe-kruje: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $459 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 $38.00 in Fushe-kruje. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $245 – 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,611 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $159 in Fushe-kruje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% 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 $852, than in Fushe-kruje at $1,074. 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 $852 versus $1,074 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.