Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fuvahmulah Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Fuvahmulah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $764 in Fuvahmulah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,102 in Fuvahmulah, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,441 in Fuvahmulah, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Fuvahmulah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Fuvahmulah are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Fuvahmulah 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.66 MVR 25.58

-0.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.91 MVR 14.05

72.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.47 MVR 7.23

153.19%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.54 MVR 23.80

25.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$6.43 MVR 99.2

151.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.77 MVR 73.6

-37.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.08 MVR 202

-16.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$3.19 MVR 49.26

-15.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.33 MVR 20.44

-12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$3.20 MVR 49.32

-47.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.63 MVR 25.14

-1.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.11 MVR 17.16

24.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.09 MVR 16.80

10.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$1.64 MVR 25.34

-59.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.62 MVR 9.55

-9.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.80 MVR 58.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.84 MVR 105

-32.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.66 MVR 10.21

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$19.20 MVR 296

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.60 MVR 24.70

-15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.66 MVR 25.65

-19.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.39 MVR 98.5

28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.28 MVR 19.69

-4.69%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.4K MVR 299.6K

9.92%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$22.4K MVR 345.6K

0.53%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$165 MVR 2,545

-57.18%

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$38.96 MVR 601

-55.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.09 MVR 356

82.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$13.23 MVR 204

-48.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.43 MVR 99.1

-7.93%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$155 MVR 2,397

98.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,301 MVR 35.5K

546.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$29.49 MVR 455

89.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$19.37 MVR 299

34.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$38.97 MVR 601

113.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$51.8 MVR 799

35.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$322 MVR 4,969

34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$255 MVR 3,928

-6.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$556 MVR 8,567

47.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$526 MVR 8,118

-2.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$352 MVR 5,421

317.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$646 MVR 9,957

-10.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Fuvahmulah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $322 in Fuvahmulah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Fuvahmulah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Fuvahmulah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Fuvahmulah, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,147 in Fuvahmulah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fuvahmulah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Fuvahmulah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $764 in Fuvahmulah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fuvahmulah costs $764 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. 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 Fuvahmulah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.