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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,317 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,386 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,456 in Georgetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Georgetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Georgetown are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Georgetown 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

$12.09 GYD 2,515

-83.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

$70.6 GYD 14.7K

-74.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

$8.51 GYD 1,770

-12.10%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

$5.08 GYD 1,057

-60.24%

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

$0.85 ฿28.45

$1.18 GYD 246

-27.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

$0.66 GYD 136

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.00 GYD 417

7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.39 GYD 497

50.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$3.33 GYD 692

-50.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$2.03 GYD 423

-22.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

$1.98 GYD 411

-39.90%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

$3.99 GYD 830

-51.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$14.02 GYD 2,916

15.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

$6.26 GYD 1,302

-52.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

$9.40 GYD 1,955

16.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

$9.65 GYD 2,006

-71.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$2.56 GYD 533

-54.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$3.26 GYD 677

-48.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$6.51 GYD 1,353

-75.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

$2.50 GYD 519

-44.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

$2.91 GYD 605

-58.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

$2.26 GYD 470

-70.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

$1.45 GYD 301

-61.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.71 GYD 564

71.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

$17.04 GYD 3,544

3.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.4

$1.69 GYD 352

10.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.54 GYD 529

29.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.63

$0.59 GYD 123

49.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

$28.90 GYD 6,010

-33.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

$3.12 GYD 650

-56.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

$3.27 GYD 680

-59.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$11.88 GYD 2,470

-30.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

$1.00 GYD 208

22.00%

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

$21.4K ฿716.8K

$22.6K GYD 4.7M

-5.40%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

$17.7K GYD 3.7M

27.46%

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

$91.3 GYD 19.0K

-22.58%

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

$14.04 ฿471

$26.96 GYD 5,607

-47.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿587

$51.8 GYD 10.8K

-66.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,415

$39.09 GYD 8,129

7.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$6.88 GYD 1,431

-13.95%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$1,016 GYD 211.4K

-69.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

$22.9K GYD 4.8M

-35.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

$33.82 GYD 7,034

64.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

$53.2 GYD 11.1K

-50.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

$130 GYD 27.0K

-35.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

$75.4 GYD 15.7K

-6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$783 GYD 162.7K

-44.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

$323 GYD 67.2K

-26.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

$2,442 GYD 507.8K

-66.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$1,146 GYD 238.3K

-55.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

$3,584 GYD 745.4K

-46.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,551 GYD 322.6K

-5.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

$514 GYD 107.0K

12.65%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Georgetown: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $783 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 13% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $71.0 in Georgetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $376 – 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 53% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,975 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,016 in Georgetown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $861, 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 $861 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.