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 $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $913 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,502 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,090 in Grand-Gaube, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Grand-Gaube, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.1
$6.67 MUR 316
-70.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 ฿603
$43.42 MUR 2,056
-57.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.87 ฿258
$7.20 MUR 341
9.31%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.9
$2.59 MUR 123
-24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.80
$1.00 MUR 47.39
-15.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.61
$0.56 MUR 26.31
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 ฿70.2
$2.24 MUR 106
-4.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿121
$3.37 MUR 159
9.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿54.4
$1.08 MUR 50.9
53.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ฿51.1
$0.69 MUR 32.78
126.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.95
$1.26 MUR 59.9
-5.56%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿65.2
$2.05 MUR 97.1
-2.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 ฿532
$12.05 MUR 570
34.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿104
$3.24 MUR 154
-2.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.84 ฿355
$12.59 MUR 596
-13.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿87.0
$1.29 MUR 61.0
105.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿40.00
$1.55 MUR 73.4
-21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 ฿54.1
$1.29 MUR 60.9
27.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.7
$1.08 MUR 51.1
43.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.53
$1.03 MUR 48.62
29.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.75
$0.89 MUR 42.36
35.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿22.22
$0.81 MUR 38.12
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.54
$0.53 MUR 25.12
7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 ฿154
$6.46 MUR 306
-27.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 ฿557
$6.18 MUR 293
174.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.25 MUR 59.2
45.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿104
$2.26 MUR 107
40.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ฿29.70
$1.03 MUR 48.83
-11.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.74 ฿614
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿46.18
$4.46 MUR 211
-68.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.88
$2.73 MUR 129
-50.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ฿267
$19.86 MUR 940
-59.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿41.88
$1.41 MUR 66.8
-9.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ฿715.2K
$35.6K MUR 1.7M
-38.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ฿734.1K
$28.4K MUR 1.3M
-21.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,310
$50.2 MUR 2,374
40.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05 ฿460
$18.52 MUR 877
-24.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65 ฿578
$33.48 MUR 1,585
-47.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.29 ฿1,353
$38.42 MUR 1,819
7.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76 ฿222
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.96 ฿195
$6.07 MUR 287
-1.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ฿9,928
$65.8 MUR 3,117
360.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿490.2K
$3,982 MUR 188.5K
275.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ฿1,793
$26.70 MUR 1,264
104.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29 ฿861
$26.13 MUR 1,237
0.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,811
$66.2 MUR 3,133
29.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,284
$33.15 MUR 1,570
110.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ฿14.0K
$518 MUR 24.5K
-17.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,834
$355 MUR 16.8K
-32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿26.6K
$958 MUR 45.4K
-15.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 ฿16.7K
$730 MUR 34.6K
-30.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,025 ฿66.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 ฿49.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Grand-Gaube
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 ฿20.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.67
-25.04%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Grand-Gaube: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $518 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $43.00 in Grand-Gaube. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $185 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 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,370 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $43.00 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 31% 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 $848, than in Grand-Gaube at $913. 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 $848 versus $913 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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