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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $360 in Galcaio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $588 in Galcaio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $815 in Galcaio, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Galcaio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Galcaio are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Galcaio 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$4.86 SOS 2,776

-59.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$30.30 SOS 17.3K

-39.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$7.14 SOS 4,083

5.04%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.01 SOS 580

91.09%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.49 SOS 278

59.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.29 SOS 166

10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.47 SOS 842

16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$0.49 SOS 280

218.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.02 SOS 581

15.69%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$2.26 SOS 1,294

-12.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$6.05 SOS 3,459

165.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$3.04 SOS 1,738

4.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$1.98 SOS 1,134

32.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.83 SOS 1,043

-36.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$2.57 SOS 1,468

-35.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$1.17 SOS 667

31.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$0.79 SOS 451

74.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$0.52 SOS 297

125.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.48 SOS 274

37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.77 SOS 439

-33.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$1.18 SOS 677

283.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$2.04 SOS 1,163

798.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.41 SOS 232

119.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.47 SOS 842

-4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$1.49 SOS 851

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.09 SOS 621

17.43%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$9,954 SOS 5.7M

118.04%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$100 SOS 57.3K

-30.97%

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

$13.97 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$30.34 SOS 17.3K

-40.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$25.42 SOS 14.5K

66.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

$10.15 SOS 5,798

-34.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Galcaio: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $0 in Galcaio. 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $30 in Galcaio. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $122 in Galcaio – so Galcaio wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Galcaio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Galcaio, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $540 in Galcaio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $845 in Chiang Mai and $360 in Galcaio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 100% 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 $845 in Chiang Mai and $360 in Galcaio, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Galcaio costs $360 versus $845 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 Galcaio. 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.