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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $976 in Gyongyos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,575 in Gyongyos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,173 in Gyongyos, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Gyongyos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Gyongyos are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Gyongyos 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿64.3
$10.04 Ft 3,038
-80.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿612
$43.15 Ft 13.1K
-56.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿252
$8.28 Ft 2,505
-6.40%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿62.5
$1.96 Ft 592
-2.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿25.79
$1.40 Ft 424
-43.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.62
$1.00 Ft 302
-64.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$2.27 Ft 688
-2.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.07 Ft 626
76.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿53.8
$1.04 Ft 316
58.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.2
$1.23 Ft 371
32.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.86
$1.53 Ft 464
-22.22%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.1
$2.15 Ft 649
-6.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿520
$9.24 Ft 2,797
72.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿98.5
$5.84 Ft 1,766
-48.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿354
$10.96 Ft 3,316
-0.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.0
$1.52 Ft 459
81.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.42
$1.84 Ft 556
-35.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$2.06 Ft 623
-20.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿49.51
$4.17 Ft 1,261
-63.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.10
$1.11 Ft 336
24.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.84
$1.32 Ft 400
-9.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿22.86
$1.34 Ft 404
-47.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.13
$0.52 Ft 157
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿149
$7.07 Ft 2,139
-35.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿539
$5.12 Ft 1,548
223.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿59.5
$1.09 Ft 331
67.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿104
$1.20 Ft 362
166.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.56
$0.74 Ft 224
18.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿610
$17.16 Ft 5,191
9.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.16
$2.90 Ft 878
-53.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿43.65
$0.93 Ft 280
44.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿256
$17.02 Ft 5,151
-53.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.92
$1.77 Ft 535
-30.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿704.3K
$24.9K Ft 7.5M
-13.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿734.3K
$20.2K Ft 6.1M
11.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,298
$148 Ft 44.8K
-52.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿445
$23.00 Ft 6,959
-40.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿568
$17.14 Ft 5,185
1.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,346
$32.43 Ft 9,813
27.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿227
$8.48 Ft 2,565
-17.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿188
$5.68 Ft 1,719
1.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.0K
$456 Ft 138.1K
-32.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿475.9K
$6,851 Ft 2.1M
113.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,817
$85.3 Ft 25.8K
-34.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿854
$14.32 Ft 4,334
83.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,793
$74.6 Ft 22.6K
14.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,353
$72.4 Ft 21.9K
-0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.0K
$386 Ft 116.7K
11.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,774
$255 Ft 77.1K
-6.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.6K
$566 Ft 171.3K
44.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.6K
$539 Ft 163.2K
-5.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿64.6K
$3,202 Ft 968.7K
-38.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.3K
$2,091 Ft 632.6K
-29.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.2K
$804 Ft 243.2K
-23.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8
-37.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Gyongyos: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $386 in Gyongyos. 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 30% higher in Gyongyos, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $43.00 in Gyongyos. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $211 in Gyongyos – so Gyongyos 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 Gyongyos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
Gyongyos costs about 12% 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 vs Gyongyos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,464 in Gyongyos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
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 childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Gyongyos?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $456 in Gyongyos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Gyongyos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $976 in Gyongyos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $976 in Gyongyos. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Gyongyos?
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 Gyongyos?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gyongyos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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