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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,116 in Gramsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,692 in Gramsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,269 in Gramsh, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Gramsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Gramsh 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$9.95 ALL 789

-79.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$40.38 ALL 3,200

-51.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.39 ALL 585

-23.27%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.98 ALL 157

-8.59%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.99 ALL 158

-61.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.71 ALL 56.3

-50.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.47 ALL 195

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.50 ALL 277

8.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$2.00 ALL 159

2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.94 ALL 74.5

60.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.05 ALL 163

-31.71%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.77 ALL 220

-18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.53 ALL 835

53.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$8.87 ALL 703

-67.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.73 ALL 1,167

-36.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.05 ALL 162

30.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.39 ALL 190

-54.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.73 ALL 137

-6.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.62 ALL 129

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.12 ALL 88.5

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.25 ALL 99.2

-15.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.18 ALL 93.1

-38.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.86 ALL 68.0

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.52 ALL 358

-6.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$9.90 ALL 785

84.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.82 ALL 144

-10.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.90 ALL 151

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.56 ALL 44.34

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$21.37 ALL 1,694

151.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$3.76 ALL 298

-68.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$3.82 ALL 303

-84.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$18.85 ALL 1,494

-87.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$2.18 ALL 173

-33.49%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$35.3K ALL 2.8M

-40.44%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$25.8K ALL 2.0M

2.51%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$63.6 ALL 5,039

0.11%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$16.30 ALL 1,292

-20.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$17.69 ALL 1,402

16.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$63.4 ALL 5,020

-38.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$9.01 ALL 714

-26.97%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$99.3 ALL 7,872

689.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$50.6 ALL 4,009

8.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$57.5 ALL 4,559

-56.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$102 ALL 8,063

-7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$150 ALL 11.9K

-50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$511 ALL 40.5K

-4.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$368 ALL 29.2K

-21.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$746 ALL 59.1K

19.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$497 ALL 39.4K

4.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,701 ALL 134.8K

16.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,376 ALL 109.1K

4.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Gramsh: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $511 in Gramsh. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Gramsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $262 – 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 Gramsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gramsh costs about 20% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,674 in Gramsh. 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 $99.3 in Gramsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Gramsh, 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 Gramsh at $1,116. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gramsh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,116 in Gramsh. 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, Gramsh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.