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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,317 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,426 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,535 in Georgetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 34% cheaper than Georgetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Georgetown are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Georgetown 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.78 GYD 2,449

-83.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$72.5 GYD 15.1K

-74.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.59 GYD 1,786

-8.96%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.16 GYD 1,073

-62.21%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.19 GYD 247

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.65 GYD 135

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.06 GYD 428

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.35 GYD 488

58.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.36 GYD 699

-49.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.14 GYD 445

-23.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.89 GYD 393

-39.68%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.00 GYD 831

-51.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$13.94 GYD 2,898

16.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.17 GYD 1,283

-49.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$9.42 GYD 1,958

15.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$9.36 GYD 1,947

-70.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.60 GYD 541

-53.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.23 GYD 671

-49.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$6.26 GYD 1,301

-74.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.40 GYD 498

-41.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$3.01 GYD 627

-61.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.29 GYD 475

-71.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.44 GYD 300

-63.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.57 GYD 535

82.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$17.05 GYD 3,544

9.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.75 GYD 363

2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.45 GYD 509

31.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.61 GYD 126

47.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$29.07 GYD 6,043

-33.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.20 GYD 664

-55.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.29 GYD 684

-60.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$12.07 GYD 2,509

-35.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.04 GYD 216

22.12%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.0K GYD 4.6M

-3.23%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$17.3K GYD 3.6M

28.22%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$90.5 GYD 18.8K

-23.68%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$27.39 GYD 5,695

-48.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$51.1 GYD 10.6K

-64.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$39.07 GYD 8,122

5.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.55 GYD 1,362

-9.62%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$1,023 GYD 212.6K

-70.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$22.9K GYD 4.8M

-34.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$34.88 GYD 7,251

56.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$52.0 GYD 10.8K

-48.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$130 GYD 27.1K

-34.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$77.7 GYD 16.2K

-9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$793 GYD 164.8K

-45.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$315 GYD 65.6K

-24.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,481 GYD 515.8K

-67.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,191 GYD 247.6K

-56.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$3,505 GYD 728.7K

-43.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,573 GYD 327.0K

-6.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$517 GYD 107.4K

19.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Georgetown: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $793 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 20% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $72.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $373 – 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 52% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,976 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,023 in Georgetown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $866, than in Georgetown at $1,317. 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 $866 versus $1,317 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.