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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,801 in Hagatna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,968 in Hagatna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,135 in Hagatna, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 67% cheaper than Hagatna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Hagatna is 105% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$3.87 $3.87

-47.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$9.40 $9.40

-75.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.31 $1.31

10.69%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$359 $359

-82.26%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$60.6 $60.6

-78.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$58.9 $58.9

-65.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

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

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$2,163 $2,163

-77.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$2,207 $2,207

-86.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$2,436 $2,436

-63.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$2,394 $2,394

-78.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$6,746 $6,746

-91.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Hagatna: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $2,163 in Hagatna. 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 1021% higher in Hagatna, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Hagatna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hagatna costs about 200% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $4,201 in Hagatna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $2,801 in Hagatna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 216% cheaper in Hagatna – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Hagatna at $2,801. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hagatna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,801 in Hagatna. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hagatna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.