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 $1,095 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,645 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,194 in Fushe-kruje, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% 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 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$9.19 ALL 750

-78.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$36.86 ALL 3,009

-48.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.13 ALL 582

11.08%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.89 ALL 154

1.06%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.65 ALL 135

-49.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.86 ALL 70.1

-59.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.40 ALL 196

-7.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.29 ALL 269

15.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.98 ALL 161

-17.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.92 ALL 75.0

76.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.03 ALL 166

-41.87%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.04 ALL 248

-33.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$9.89 ALL 807

60.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.88 ALL 644

-61.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.49 ALL 1,101

-20.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.73 ALL 141

50.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.37 ALL 193

-48.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.74 ALL 142

-2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.33 ALL 109

18.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.01 ALL 82.7

30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.24 ALL 102

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.15 ALL 94.2

-41.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.78 ALL 63.9

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.98 ALL 325

13.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$9.97 ALL 814

82.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.59 ALL 130

15.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.74 ALL 142

85.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.45 ALL 37.07

97.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$18.57 ALL 1,516

4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$3.49 ALL 285

-61.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$3.10 ALL 253

-56.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$17.52 ALL 1,431

-52.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.07 ALL 169

-38.65%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$34.3K ALL 2.8M

-38.28%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.9K ALL 2.1M

-13.10%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$68.3 ALL 5,576

2.72%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.67 ALL 1,443

-22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$16.19 ALL 1,322

8.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$54.9 ALL 4,484

-24.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$25.23 ALL 2,060

-73.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$8.24 ALL 673

-29.85%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$160 ALL 13.1K

91.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,569 ALL 454.7K

166.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$46.50 ALL 3,797

16.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$50.5 ALL 4,124

-48.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$96.0 ALL 7,841

-11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$131 ALL 10.7K

-46.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$453 ALL 36.9K

-6.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$341 ALL 27.9K

-30.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$599 ALL 48.9K

37.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$428 ALL 35.0K

20.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,706 ALL 139.3K

20.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,167 ALL 95.3K

30.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Fushe-kruje: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 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: $243 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 28% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,642 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Fushe-kruje. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $1,095. 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 $1,095 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.