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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,104 in Gramsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,647 in Gramsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,191 in Gramsh, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Gramsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Gramsh are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Gramsh 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$9.21 ALL 751

-78.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$37.03 ALL 3,020

-50.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.98 ALL 569

7.16%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.94 ALL 158

4.12%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.65 ALL 135

-48.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.88 ALL 71.5

-59.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.37 ALL 193

-9.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$3.34 ALL 273

7.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.05 ALL 167

-19.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.92 ALL 75.4

70.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.93 ALL 157

-38.34%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.90 ALL 237

-33.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.76 ALL 796

65.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.64 ALL 623

-60.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$13.51 ALL 1,102

-19.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.81 ALL 147

49.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.35 ALL 192

-50.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.69 ALL 138

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.35 ALL 110

18.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.01 ALL 82.7

36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.23 ALL 100

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.14 ALL 92.8

-41.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.78 ALL 63.5

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.03 ALL 328

15.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.17 ALL 829

73.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.74 ALL 142

6.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.81 ALL 148

82.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.46 ALL 37.50

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$19.07 ALL 1,555

1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.57 ALL 291

-61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$3.16 ALL 258

-57.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$17.41 ALL 1,420

-52.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.12 ALL 173

-42.45%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$34.6K ALL 2.8M

-38.30%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$25.6K ALL 2.1M

-12.02%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$68.4 ALL 5,579

3.30%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$17.15 ALL 1,399

-18.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$16.14 ALL 1,316

8.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$54.1 ALL 4,409

-22.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.66 ALL 2,093

-73.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$8.18 ALL 667

-27.63%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$96.0 ALL 7,830

221.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$47.11 ALL 3,842

18.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$52.7 ALL 4,294

-50.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$95.1 ALL 7,757

-12.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$139 ALL 11.4K

-49.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$457 ALL 37.3K

-5.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$346 ALL 28.2K

-30.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$606 ALL 49.5K

35.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$430 ALL 35.1K

19.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,022 ALL 164.9K

-5.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,320 ALL 107.7K

11.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Gramsh: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $457 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Gramsh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 28% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,656 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $96.0 in Gramsh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $861, than in Gramsh at $1,104. 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 $861 versus $1,104 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.