Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Grand-Gaube Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Grand-Gaube

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,050 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,734 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,418 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 9% cheaper than Grand-Gaube, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Grand-Gaube are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Grand-Gaube 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿69.3
$5.99 MUR 280
-64.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84 ฿656
$38.05 MUR 1,781
-47.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.79 ฿191
$7.57 MUR 354
-23.51%
Cappuccino
$1.83 ฿60.4
$2.58 MUR 121
-29.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ฿25.61
$1.13 MUR 52.7
-30.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.37
$0.62 MUR 28.92
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ฿77.2
$2.67 MUR 125
-12.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 ฿122
$4.65 MUR 217
-20.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ฿67.1
$1.61 MUR 75.6
26.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ฿52.7
$0.72 MUR 33.92
122.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.75
$1.15 MUR 53.7
23.48%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿71.9
$2.68 MUR 126
-18.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ฿526
$5.23 MUR 245
204.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ฿102
$6.55 MUR 306
-53.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.87 ฿326
$11.23 MUR 525
-12.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ฿86.8
$2.73 MUR 128
-3.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.19
$2.66 MUR 125
-58.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿53.8
$1.45 MUR 67.8
12.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.6
$3.05 MUR 143
-49.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.13
$1.01 MUR 47.49
22.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ฿37.37
$0.95 MUR 44.49
18.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ฿24.38
$0.70 MUR 32.71
5.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.48
$0.91 MUR 42.37
-45.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 ฿141
$6.65 MUR 311
-35.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.97 ฿594
$8.65 MUR 405
107.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿56.1
$1.69 MUR 79.0
0.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿95.7
$2.33 MUR 109
24.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.23 ฿40.76
$4.30 MUR 201
-71.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.66
$3.26 MUR 153
-83.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.40 ฿79.3
$21.42 MUR 1,002
-88.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.55
$1.37 MUR 64.2
5.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿700.2K
$36.3K MUR 1.7M
-41.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿902.1K
$30.7K MUR 1.4M
-11.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.9 ฿2,145
$45.47 MUR 2,128
42.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.35 ฿441
$10.57 MUR 495
26.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83 ฿688
$29.00 MUR 1,357
-28.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.42 ฿1,336
$34.43 MUR 1,612
17.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 ฿131
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71 ฿222
$6.30 MUR 295
6.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$787 ฿26.0K
$128 MUR 5,982
515.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ฿499.6K
$7,830 MUR 366.5K
93.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 ฿1,858
$79.2 MUR 3,707
-29.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.95 ฿824
$75.3 MUR 3,525
-66.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.7 ฿3,063
$120 MUR 5,598
-22.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ฿2,482
$78.8 MUR 3,686
-4.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 ฿16.0K
$587 MUR 27.5K
-17.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ฿9,491
$396 MUR 18.5K
-27.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ฿30.1K
$1,095 MUR 51.2K
-16.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ฿17.5K
$866 MUR 40.5K
-38.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$605 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Grand-Gaube: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $587 in Grand-Gaube. 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 $38.00 in Grand-Gaube. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $221 in Grand-Gaube – so Grand-Gaube 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 Grand-Gaube: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Grand-Gaube?
Grand-Gaube costs about 10% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Grand-Gaube?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,575 in Grand-Gaube. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Grand-Gaube?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Grand-Gaube?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Grand-Gaube. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Grand-Gaube?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Grand-Gaube – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Grand-Gaube?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Grand-Gaube at $1,050. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand-Gaube it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Grand-Gaube?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,050 in Grand-Gaube. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Grand-Gaube?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Grand-Gaube?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Grand-Gaube makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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