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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,244 in Godollo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,783 in Godollo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,322 in Godollo, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Godollo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Godollo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Godollo 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ฿63.5
$7.84 Ft 2,391
-75.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64 ฿609
$45.30 Ft 13.8K
-58.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.82 ฿255
$5.79 Ft 1,766
35.06%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.8
$2.04 Ft 623
-4.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.77
$1.48 Ft 451
-42.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.58
$1.30 Ft 398
-73.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 ฿69.6
$2.36 Ft 720
-9.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿122
$2.19 Ft 667
70.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿56.0
$1.07 Ft 326
59.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.73 Ft 529
-5.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.15
$2.07 Ft 631
-44.93%
Eggs
$1.93 ฿63.1
$3.09 Ft 944
-37.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.21 ฿530
$9.70 Ft 2,958
67.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$6.17 Ft 1,880
-49.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿356
$13.19 Ft 4,021
-17.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.0
$1.85 Ft 565
48.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.52
$1.87 Ft 571
-35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$1.99 Ft 606
-18.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$3.49 Ft 1,063
-54.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 ฿45.70
$1.03 Ft 313
35.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.17
$1.19 Ft 361
-1.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ฿21.60
$1.37 Ft 419
-51.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.22
$0.48 Ft 146
10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿153
$6.59 Ft 2,011
-28.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.66 ฿609
$5.88 Ft 1,792
217.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$1.17 Ft 356
53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.49 Ft 456
116.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ฿29.26
$1.17 Ft 356
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.21 ฿628
$24.76 Ft 7,553
-22.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.91
$2.90 Ft 886
-51.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿42.12
$1.15 Ft 352
12.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$17.39 Ft 5,303
-54.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.58
$1.74 Ft 532
-27.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ฿694.9K
$26.0K Ft 7.9M
-18.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ฿725.4K
$25.4K Ft 7.8M
-12.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.1 ฿2,256
$147 Ft 44.8K
-53.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08 ฿460
$25.55 Ft 7,791
-44.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 ฿588
$20.32 Ft 6,198
-11.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.06 ฿1,341
$47.41 Ft 14.5K
-13.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$16.50 Ft 5,033
-57.82%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ฿193
$8.21 Ft 2,503
-27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,766
$286 Ft 87.2K
4.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿488.3K
$6,896 Ft 2.1M
116.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,787
$42.54 Ft 13.0K
28.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77 ฿874
$30.27 Ft 9,231
-11.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 ฿2,776
$97.5 Ft 29.7K
-12.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 ฿2,306
$105 Ft 31.9K
-32.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$543 Ft 165.7K
-21.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,752
$441 Ft 134.5K
-46.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ฿26.2K
$645 Ft 196.8K
24.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$523 Ft 159.5K
-1.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,975 ฿64.5K
$3,295 Ft 1.0M
-40.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 ฿48.2K
$2,427 Ft 740.1K
-39.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Godollo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 ฿20.2K
$1,315 Ft 401.2K
-53.06%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Godollo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $543 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 113% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Godollo. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $231 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 44% 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 vs Godollo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,866 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 Godollo?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $286 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 Godollo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% 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 Godollo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Godollo at $1,244. 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 $866 versus $1,244 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 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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