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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,082 in Gramsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,650 in Gramsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,219 in Gramsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Gramsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Gramsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gramsh 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$9.66 ALL 790

-79.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$36.83 ALL 3,013

-49.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.26 ALL 594

7.71%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.94 ALL 159

0.52%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.58 ALL 129

-46.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.85 ALL 69.6

-58.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.31 ALL 189

-7.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.19 ALL 261

16.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.07 ALL 169

-17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.92 ALL 75.7

77.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.01 ALL 165

-43.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.02 ALL 247

-36.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.77 ALL 799

65.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.77 ALL 635

-59.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$13.39 ALL 1,095

-18.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.87 ALL 153

47.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.34 ALL 191

-48.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.68 ALL 137

-3.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.33 ALL 109

19.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.06 ALL 86.5

32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.20 ALL 98.0

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.09 ALL 88.9

-39.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.72 ALL 59.2

-26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.18 ALL 342

12.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.94 ALL 813

87.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.76 ALL 144

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.80 ALL 147

79.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.46 ALL 37.63

95.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$18.51 ALL 1,515

3.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$3.48 ALL 285

-59.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.05 ALL 250

-57.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$17.71 ALL 1,449

-55.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.19 ALL 179

-42.01%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.3K ALL 2.8M

-37.88%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.4K ALL 2.1M

-12.68%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$68.4 ALL 5,599

0.92%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$17.22 ALL 1,409

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$16.10 ALL 1,317

11.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$55.5 ALL 4,544

-26.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$25.67 ALL 2,100

-72.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.33 ALL 682

-28.93%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$92.5 ALL 7,564

223.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$46.35 ALL 3,792

18.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$53.1 ALL 4,346

-49.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$93.8 ALL 7,671

-9.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$143 ALL 11.7K

-50.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$459 ALL 37.5K

-6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$342 ALL 28.0K

-30.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$604 ALL 49.4K

32.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$441 ALL 36.1K

16.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,803 ALL 147.5K

9.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,220 ALL 99.8K

20.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gramsh: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $459 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Gramsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $246 – 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 25% 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 $1,623 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $92.5 in Gramsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Gramsh – 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 Gramsh at $1,082. 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 $866 versus $1,082 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.