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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $358 in Galcaio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $588 in Galcaio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Galcaio, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 137% more than Galcaio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Galcaio are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Galcaio 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.98 SOS 2,830

-60.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$30.14 SOS 17.1K

-38.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$7.20 SOS 4,089

9.31%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.03 SOS 583

89.32%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.49 SOS 277

73.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.31 SOS 178

3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.54 SOS 877

7.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.52 SOS 295

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.03 SOS 584

15.53%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$2.32 SOS 1,316

-14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$5.97 SOS 3,391

172.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$3.03 SOS 1,722

4.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$2.03 SOS 1,154

30.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$1.85 SOS 1,049

-34.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$2.52 SOS 1,430

-34.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.19 SOS 673

30.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.83 SOS 472

60.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.52 SOS 295

132.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.52 SOS 295

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.84 SOS 475

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$1.22 SOS 691

283.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$2.02 SOS 1,148

741.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.40 SOS 228

127.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$1.51 SOS 858

-6.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

$1.53 SOS 870

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.09 SOS 616

17.43%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$9,947 SOS 5.6M

125.20%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$99.6 SOS 56.6K

-29.23%

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$30.33 SOS 17.2K

-41.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$25.02 SOS 14.2K

65.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$10.15 SOS 5,766

-33.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Galcaio: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Galcaio. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $124 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 137% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $536 in Galcaio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $358 in Galcaio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 95% 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $358 in Galcaio, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Galcaio costs $358 versus $848 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.