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 $1,226 in Georgetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,998 in Georgetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,770 in Georgetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.44 EC$20.10

-73.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.97 EC$29.61

-28.71%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.46 EC$3.93

-41.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.83 EC$4.95

-80.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.49 EC$4.04

42.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.78 EC$10.21

-1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.39 EC$6.45

-28.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.59 EC$4.30

2.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.64 EC$4.44

-30.49%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.39 EC$11.86

-56.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.74 EC$26.30

66.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.87 EC$13.16

-35.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$14.52 EC$39.20

-24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$18.82 EC$50.8

-85.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$8.08 EC$21.82

-79.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$6.62 EC$17.87

-75.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$6.35 EC$17.13

-77.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$4.17 EC$11.25

-71.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$3.71 EC$10.03

-82.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.94 EC$7.95

-81.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$6.07 EC$16.39

-22.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.58 EC$6.97

-30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.73 EC$10.07

-13.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$2.55 EC$6.87

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$110 EC$298

-82.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$36.43 EC$98.4

-78.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$36.4K EC$98.4K

-41.59%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$56.6 EC$153

-68.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$22.41 EC$60.5

83.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$18.63 EC$50.3

-62.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.51 EC$20.26

-21.17%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$183 EC$493

63.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$73.6 EC$199

-25.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$110 EC$297

-75.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$182 EC$491

-53.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$146 EC$393

-51.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$299 EC$808

43.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$222 EC$599

6.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$3,097 EC$8,361

-74.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$664 EC$1,792

-22.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-58.33%

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: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $299 in Georgetown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 41% 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 $1,839 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.

Public transport costs about 474% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 70% 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 $1,226. 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 $1,226 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.