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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,057 in Gizo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,946 in Gizo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,834 in Gizo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 59% cheaper than Gizo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Gizo is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$3.07 SBD 24.77

-33.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$53.8 SBD 435

-65.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$14.73 SBD 119

-46.64%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$2.63 SBD 21.24

-22.81%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.18 SBD 9.52

-32.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$1.23 SBD 9.94

-71.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$2.39 SBD 19.29

-10.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$2.37 SBD 19.16

54.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$3.16 SBD 25.56

-45.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.35 SBD 10.89

16.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.39 SBD 11.23

-13.67%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$6.63 SBD 53.5

-70.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$8.53 SBD 68.9

90.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.14 SBD 49.62

-50.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$8.27 SBD 66.8

30.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$6.78 SBD 54.8

-59.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$6.14 SBD 49.57

-80.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$6.15 SBD 49.69

-72.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$3.07 SBD 24.77

-48.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$2.96 SBD 23.93

-53.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$2.33 SBD 18.83

-50.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$2.43 SBD 19.60

-72.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$1.29 SBD 10.44

-59.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.31 SBD 34.83

7.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$12.34 SBD 99.7

44.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.82 SBD 14.72

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$2.19 SBD 17.71

52.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.37 SBD 3.00

145.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$29.81 SBD 241

-37.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.17 SBD 9.44

20.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$2.30 SBD 18.57

-41.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$11.88 SBD 96.0

-31.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.76 SBD 14.19

-30.11%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$20.2K SBD 162.9K

6.32%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$20.9K SBD 169.2K

4.18%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$712 SBD 5,749

-89.98%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$13.17 SBD 106

6.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$122 SBD 984

-85.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$18.13 SBD 146

125.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.84 SBD 47.21

17.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.16 SBD 33.64

37.50%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$121 SBD 980

154.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$1,196 SBD 9,662

1127.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$24.52 SBD 198

127.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$91.0 SBD 735

-71.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$95.1 SBD 768

-10.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$84.9 SBD 686

-16.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$582 SBD 4,702

-27.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$578 SBD 4,673

-58.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$601 SBD 4,854

32.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$1,193 SBD 9,637

-57.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$87.7K SBD 708.3K

-97.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$391 SBD 3,162

52.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

-69.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Gizo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $582 in Gizo. 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 52% 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 $54.0 in Gizo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $346 – 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 Gizo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gizo costs about 141% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,086 in Gizo. 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $121 in Gizo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Gizo, 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 $852, than in Gizo at $2,057. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gizo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $2,057 in Gizo. 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, Gizo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.