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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $345 in Ho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $554 in Ho, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $764 in Ho, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 147% more than Ho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ho are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ho 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$3.00 GHS 35.03

-32.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$10.00 GHS 117

87.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$3.86 GHS 45.04

103.63%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.43 GHS 16.66

41.96%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.51 GHS 5.96

56.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.30 GHS 3.53

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$0.47 GHS 5.46

355.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$0.80 GHS 9.30

358.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.16 GHS 13.50

49.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.51 GHS 5.92

207.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$0.75 GHS 8.70

60.00%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$2.29 GHS 26.78

-13.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$10.92 GHS 128

48.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$4.26 GHS 49.75

-28.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$5.40 GHS 63.0

100.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$2.12 GHS 24.78

30.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.01 GHS 11.85

15.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$0.93 GHS 10.91

83.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.93 GHS 10.81

70.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.91 GHS 22.32

-27.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.02 GHS 11.89

13.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.28 GHS 3.25

135.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.48 GHS 5.57

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$1.58 GHS 18.47

194.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$7.14 GHS 83.4

149.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$0.56 GHS 6.49

219.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$1.14 GHS 13.33

192.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.59 GHS 18.63

-11.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$1.20 GHS 14.06

11.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$5.47 GHS 63.9

48.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$0.98 GHS 11.47

25.51%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$5,792 GHS 67.6K

270.10%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$7,771 GHS 90.8K

180.84%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$23.97 GHS 280

197.58%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$13.01 GHS 152

7.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$14.69 GHS 172

22.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.44 GHS 110

-39.41%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$71.5 GHS 835

331.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$8,026 GHS 93.7K

82.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$14.74 GHS 172

278.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$18.68 GHS 218

39.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$28.66 GHS 335

195.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$42.10 GHS 492

68.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.4

-80.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ho: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $10.00 in Ho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $158 – making Ho the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 147% more than Ho, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $518 in Ho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $10.00 in Ho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $345 in Ho, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ho costs $345 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. 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 Ho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.