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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,175 in Gizo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,079 in Gizo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,983 in Gizo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 57% cheaper than Gizo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Gizo is 59% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.14 SBD 25.09

-33.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$55.2 SBD 441

-64.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$15.36 SBD 123

-63.09%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.87 SBD 22.94

-36.93%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.28 SBD 10.25

-39.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.22 SBD 9.75

-71.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.55 SBD 20.43

-13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.45 SBD 19.62

54.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$3.19 SBD 25.54

-35.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.34 SBD 10.69

12.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.43 SBD 11.41

-2.10%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$7.24 SBD 57.9

-68.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$8.61 SBD 68.8

88.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.38 SBD 51.0

-54.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.73 SBD 69.9

7.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$6.78 SBD 54.2

-60.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$6.38 SBD 51.0

-82.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$6.38 SBD 51.0

-74.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.04 SBD 24.31

-51.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$3.10 SBD 24.81

-58.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$2.54 SBD 20.31

-58.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$2.44 SBD 19.52

-70.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.34 SBD 10.69

-60.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.30 SBD 34.37

-1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$12.74 SBD 102

43.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.89 SBD 15.14

-13.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.24 SBD 17.89

29.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.36 SBD 2.87

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$31.21 SBD 250

72.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.26 SBD 10.10

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.45 SBD 19.63

-76.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$12.58 SBD 101

-81.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.80 SBD 14.39

-19.44%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$20.6K SBD 164.6K

2.12%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$22.3K SBD 178.0K

18.72%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$754 SBD 6,033

-91.56%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$13.49 SBD 108

-4.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$123 SBD 987

-83.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$18.99 SBD 152

105.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.07 SBD 48.55

-35.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.34 SBD 34.68

51.61%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$126 SBD 1,011

520.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,272 SBD 10.2K

1053.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$25.26 SBD 202

118.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$93.0 SBD 744

-73.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$100.0 SBD 799

-5.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$88.7 SBD 709

-16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$600 SBD 4,795

-18.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$601 SBD 4,805

-52.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$626 SBD 5,005

42.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$1,245 SBD 9,953

-58.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$87.3K SBD 698.3K

-97.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$400 SBD 3,199

50.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

16.33

-65.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gizo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $600 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 50% 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 $55.0 in Gizo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $356 – 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 133% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,262 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $126 in Gizo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $932, than in Gizo at $2,175. 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 $932 versus $2,175 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.