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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,248 in Godollo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,782 in Godollo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,317 in Godollo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Godollo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Godollo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Godollo 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿65.8
$7.67 Ft 2,431
-74.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.35 ฿617
$46.75 Ft 14.8K
-60.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿252
$5.79 Ft 1,834
29.19%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ฿67.8
$2.03 Ft 642
-0.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿28.50
$1.48 Ft 470
-42.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.96
$1.36 Ft 430
-73.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿71.8
$2.35 Ft 743
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 ฿121
$2.18 Ft 691
64.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿55.5
$1.06 Ft 336
55.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿52.7
$1.76 Ft 558
-10.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿40.02
$2.07 Ft 657
-42.51%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿65.1
$3.15 Ft 998
-38.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿544
$9.91 Ft 3,140
63.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 ฿101
$6.18 Ft 1,959
-51.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ฿368
$13.26 Ft 4,201
-17.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿91.2
$1.91 Ft 606
41.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ฿39.25
$1.84 Ft 583
-36.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$2.07 Ft 654
-18.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿54.0
$3.47 Ft 1,099
-53.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.03 Ft 325
33.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ฿40.45
$1.19 Ft 376
0.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿22.50
$1.43 Ft 454
-53.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.73
$0.48 Ft 152
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 ฿156
$6.89 Ft 2,182
-32.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.62 ฿593
$5.75 Ft 1,821
206.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.5
$1.15 Ft 363
61.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿111
$1.44 Ft 458
129.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.68
$1.17 Ft 370
-24.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 ฿650
$24.96 Ft 7,908
-22.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿45.90
$2.85 Ft 903
-52.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.98
$1.16 Ft 368
15.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.21 ฿276
$17.06 Ft 5,406
-51.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿41.18
$1.84 Ft 583
-33.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ฿718.1K
$26.2K Ft 8.3M
-18.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿757.7K
$25.8K Ft 8.2M
-12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 ฿2,376
$147 Ft 46.6K
-51.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 ฿472
$25.36 Ft 8,037
-44.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.49 ฿588
$20.43 Ft 6,475
-14.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 ฿1,417
$47.33 Ft 15.0K
-10.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿231
$17.03 Ft 5,396
-59.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿199
$8.17 Ft 2,590
-27.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$285 Ft 90.3K
8.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ฿500.4K
$6,862 Ft 2.2M
116.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,875
$41.89 Ft 13.3K
33.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11 ฿878
$29.88 Ft 9,467
-12.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 ฿2,792
$98.3 Ft 31.2K
-15.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 ฿2,369
$107 Ft 33.9K
-34.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ฿14.5K
$541 Ft 171.5K
-20.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿8,035
$453 Ft 143.4K
-47.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ฿27.7K
$629 Ft 199.3K
30.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 ฿17.2K
$538 Ft 170.5K
-4.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,915 ฿64.4K
$3,070 Ft 972.7K
-37.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,467 ฿49.3K
$2,393 Ft 758.3K
-38.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$579 ฿19.5K
$1,272 Ft 403.0K
-54.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.85
-14.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Godollo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $541 in Godollo. 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 120% higher in Godollo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Godollo. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $233 in Godollo – so Godollo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Godollo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Godollo?
Godollo costs about 45% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Godollo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,872 in Godollo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Godollo?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Godollo?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $285 in Godollo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Godollo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Godollo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Godollo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Godollo at $1,248. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Godollo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Godollo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,248 in Godollo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Godollo?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Godollo?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Godollo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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