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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $700 in Holetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,385 in Holetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,069 in Holetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Holetown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Holetown are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Holetown 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$12.37 BBD 24.74

-84.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$101 BBD 202

-81.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$15.11 BBD 30.23

-48.25%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$4.54 BBD 9.07

-57.05%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.48 BBD 2.97

-42.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.22 BBD 2.44

-71.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.05 BBD 4.11

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.95 BBD 5.90

26.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.05 BBD 4.09

-16.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.24 BBD 2.47

31.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$3.97 BBD 7.95

-71.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.14 BBD 14.27

-72.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.79 BBD 23.58

37.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$12.41 BBD 24.82

-74.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$7.13 BBD 14.27

-61.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$7.55 BBD 15.10

-83.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$6.10 BBD 12.21

-73.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.46 BBD 4.93

-35.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$4.05 BBD 8.10

-65.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$3.07 BBD 6.14

-61.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.46 BBD 4.92

-73.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.48 BBD 4.95

-78.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.74 BBD 3.47

-48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$29.68 BBD 59.4

-95.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$39.64 BBD 79.3

-80.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$74.7 BBD 149

-45.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$12.32 BBD 24.64

-51.95%

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

$299 ฿9,766

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$6,304 BBD 12.6K

137.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Holetown: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $101 in Holetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $350 – making Chiang Mai 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 Holetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 24% more than Holetown, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,049 in Holetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $700 in Holetown. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 42% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $700 in Holetown, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Holetown costs $700 versus $866 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 Holetown. 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.