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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $881 in Granada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,257 in Granada, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,632 in Granada, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Granada, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Granada are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Granada 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.33 NIO 159

-51.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$23.94 NIO 877

-17.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$7.04 NIO 258

-17.76%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.75 NIO 64.1

4.57%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.84 NIO 30.79

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.67 NIO 24.58

-53.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.32 NIO 48.20

77.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.98 NIO 72.5

86.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.23 NIO 45.03

65.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.58 NIO 58.0

1.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$0.57 NIO 20.85

149.12%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$1.22 NIO 44.83

78.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$4.94 NIO 181

222.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.91 NIO 180

-37.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$7.33 NIO 268

34.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.80 NIO 139

-30.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$0.59 NIO 21.60

86.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.78 NIO 65.3

-8.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.99 NIO 36.08

54.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.82 NIO 103

-56.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.97 NIO 35.63

16.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.98 NIO 36.07

-24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.07 NIO 39.15

-53.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$2.70 NIO 98.9

58.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.06 NIO 369

78.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.47 NIO 53.7

15.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.72 NIO 63.0

68.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.11 NIO 3.89

754.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$4.07 NIO 149

1258.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.61 NIO 22.36

101.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$1.67 NIO 61.3

-68.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.90 NIO 253

-65.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.27 NIO 46.56

13.39%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$22.9K NIO 839.3K

-7.52%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$26.4K NIO 968.1K

3.29%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$119 NIO 4,366

-45.53%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$16.73 NIO 613

-20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$37.04 NIO 1,357

-43.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$8.34 NIO 306

-19.54%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$236 NIO 8,629

234.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,961 NIO 218.3K

153.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$14.97 NIO 548

275.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$30.41 NIO 1,114

-17.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$35.50 NIO 1,300

161.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$35.01 NIO 1,282

114.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$427 NIO 15.6K

13.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$345 NIO 12.6K

-16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$786 NIO 28.8K

15.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$507 NIO 18.6K

4.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$134 NIO 4,895

352.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.25

-45.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Granada: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $427 in Granada. 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 353% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Granada. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $189 in Granada – so Granada 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 Granada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Granada, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,322 in Granada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Granada, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $236 in Granada. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Granada, where all-in costs run around $881, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Granada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Granada costs $881 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. 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 Granada. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.