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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,026 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,541 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,055 in Goma, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 16% cheaper than Goma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Goma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

-84.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

-58.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

-22.88%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.59 CDF 8,158

-45.68%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.02 CDF 2,325

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.03 CDF 2,332

-66.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.59 CDF 3,606

33.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

-24.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.46 CDF 3,320

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.04 CDF 4,627

-20.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.57 CDF 3,567

-27.39%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.66 CDF 3,772

16.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

169.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

-50.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

114.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.97 CDF 4,473

39.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-39.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.71 CDF 3,884

-5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.95 CDF 6,691

-46.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.52 CDF 1,172

169.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.99 CDF 4,509

-41.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.67 CDF 1,514

-20.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.05 CDF 4,651

-12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.28 CDF 5,169

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.95 CDF 4,433

-33.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.02 CDF 2,304

24.51%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$200 CDF 453.7K

-65.44%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

-4.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

-67.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

35.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

173.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$101 CDF 228.3K

-29.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$490 CDF 1.1M

-12.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$305 CDF 692.4K

-22.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$814 CDF 1.8M

-1.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$501 CDF 1.1M

2.94%

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 %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Goma: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $490 in Goma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Goma. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Goma – so Goma 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 Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Goma costs about 18% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,540 in Goma. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,026 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Goma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Goma at $1,026. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,026 in Goma. 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, Goma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.