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 $926 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,029 in Gyongyos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,645 in Gyongyos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,261 in Gyongyos, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Gyongyos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.10 ฿70.6
$9.38 Ft 3,066
-77.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.22 ฿645
$46.93 Ft 15.3K
-59.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿184
$9.15 Ft 2,990
-40.22%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ฿56.6
$2.16 Ft 706
-21.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.71
$1.55 Ft 505
-58.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.32
$1.05 Ft 343
-70.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.8
$2.39 Ft 781
-2.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 ฿131
$2.19 Ft 715
78.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$1.15 Ft 376
80.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ฿51.4
$1.33 Ft 433
15.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 ฿41.93
$1.67 Ft 547
-25.15%
Eggs
$2.19 ฿73.6
$2.26 Ft 738
-3.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿535
$10.63 Ft 3,475
49.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.7
$6.70 Ft 2,189
-58.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 ฿327
$12.52 Ft 4,095
-22.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 ฿89.1
$1.63 Ft 532
63.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 ฿35.32
$1.91 Ft 625
-45.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.05 Ft 671
-19.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ฿49.49
$3.40 Ft 1,112
-56.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ฿40.73
$1.00 Ft 327
21.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿36.95
$1.06 Ft 347
3.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.50
$1.37 Ft 449
-44.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.66
$0.54 Ft 178
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$7.31 Ft 2,389
-40.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.50 ฿587
$5.25 Ft 1,715
233.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ฿55.7
$1.18 Ft 387
40.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.2
$1.46 Ft 478
90.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.88
$0.73 Ft 240
17.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.7 ฿1,803
$18.44 Ft 6,028
191.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.87
$3.09 Ft 1,011
-60.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.80
$1.11 Ft 362
-49.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 ฿78.6
$18.28 Ft 5,978
-87.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$1.82 Ft 594
-20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿706.4K
$26.3K Ft 8.6M
-19.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.3K
$21.7K Ft 7.1M
20.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 ฿2,133
$132 Ft 43.1K
-51.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.56 ฿422
$21.99 Ft 7,190
-42.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.04 ฿672
$18.32 Ft 5,990
9.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.73 ฿1,299
$34.57 Ft 11.3K
12.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.80 ฿127
$9.12 Ft 2,983
-58.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 ฿217
$6.12 Ft 2,000
5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$777 ฿26.1K
$254 Ft 83.1K
205.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿489.1K
$6,759 Ft 2.2M
115.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2 ฿1,853
$89.7 Ft 29.3K
-38.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.77 ฿831
$15.64 Ft 5,115
58.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 ฿3,029
$79.0 Ft 25.8K
14.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 ฿2,467
$76.2 Ft 24.9K
-3.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$466 ฿15.6K
$410 Ft 134.2K
13.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 ฿9,601
$281 Ft 91.8K
1.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$866 ฿29.0K
$610 Ft 199.5K
41.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$525 ฿17.6K
$582 Ft 190.2K
-9.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,978 ฿66.4K
$2,911 Ft 952.0K
-32.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,461 ฿49.0K
$2,633 Ft 860.9K
-44.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Gyongyos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$581 ฿19.5K
$752 Ft 246.0K
-22.77%
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 26, 2026

Last update for Gyongyos: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $466 in Chiang Mai versus $410 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 29% 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 $47.00 in Gyongyos. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Chiang Mai vs $225 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 11% 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 Gyongyos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,544 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 in Gyongyos?
Kindergarten costs $777 per month in Chiang Mai and $254 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 in Gyongyos?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Gyongyos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $926, than in Gyongyos at $1,029. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gyongyos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Gyongyos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $926 versus $1,029 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 to 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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