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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,637 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,760 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,884 in Georgetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 42% cheaper than Georgetown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Georgetown is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$17.79 GYD 3,699

-88.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$70.6 GYD 14.7K

-72.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$9.56 GYD 1,988

-40.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$5.74 GYD 1,194

-68.47%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$1.22 GYD 254

-41.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$0.62 GYD 128

-48.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$1.88 GYD 391

19.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.43 GYD 713

5.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

$3.31 GYD 688

-40.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

$2.14 GYD 444

-29.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

$2.00 GYD 415

-33.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$4.18 GYD 869

-45.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

$15.60 GYD 3,245

4.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

$7.14 GYD 1,485

-58.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

$9.13 GYD 1,899

8.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

$8.09 GYD 1,682

-68.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

$3.94 GYD 820

-73.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

$3.95 GYD 821

-59.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

$7.00 GYD 1,457

-78.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

$2.44 GYD 508

-47.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

$3.10 GYD 645

-65.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

$3.04 GYD 632

-76.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

$1.68 GYD 349

-69.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

$3.42 GYD 712

22.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

$16.81 GYD 3,496

6.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

$1.84 GYD 383

-8.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

$2.62 GYD 546

8.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$0.55 GYD 115

69.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

$61.0 GYD 12.7K

-11.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

$4.36 GYD 906

-71.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

$2.33 GYD 484

-75.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

$11.98 GYD 2,491

-79.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

$1.02 GYD 212

38.24%

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

$27.6K GYD 5.7M

-22.41%

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

$22.8K GYD 4.7M

19.92%

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

$122 GYD 25.4K

-47.79%

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

$12.85 ฿426

$21.33 GYD 4,435

-39.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

$43.92 GYD 9,133

-53.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$38.59 GYD 8,026

0.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

$15.11 GYD 3,142

-73.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$6.34 GYD 1,319

6.31%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

$1,015 GYD 211.2K

-23.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$19.0K GYD 4.0M

-23.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

$37.78 GYD 7,858

43.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

$41.31 GYD 8,591

-38.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

$136 GYD 28.3K

-30.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

$86.5 GYD 18.0K

-15.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

$954 GYD 198.4K

-48.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

$514 GYD 106.9K

-43.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

$3,290 GYD 684.2K

-72.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

$1,312 GYD 272.8K

-60.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

$3,628 GYD 754.6K

-46.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

$1,559 GYD 324.2K

-5.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$515 GYD 107.2K

16.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.94

-19.74%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Georgetown: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $954 in Georgetown. 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 17% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $398 – 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 Georgetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Georgetown costs about 73% 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,455 in Georgetown. 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 $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,015 in Georgetown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Georgetown, 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 $947, than in Georgetown at $1,637. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Georgetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,637 in Georgetown. 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, Georgetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.