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 $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $343 in Holetown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $760 in Holetown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,177 in Holetown, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 177% more than Holetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Holetown are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Holetown 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$12.68 BBD 25.35

-83.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿651

$102 BBD 204

-80.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿188

$15.09 BBD 30.19

-62.56%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.9

$4.53 BBD 9.07

-60.04%

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

$0.71 ฿23.66

$1.51 BBD 3.02

-52.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.48

$1.28 BBD 2.57

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿74.2

$1.96 BBD 3.92

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.03 BBD 6.07

19.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿65.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.83

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.32

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿539

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿98.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿330

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿85.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.5

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.14

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.70

$1.78 BBD 3.56

-47.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,787

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.84

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

$21.4K ฿711.3K

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

$27.3K ฿906.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,112

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

$12.85 ฿426

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿671

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

$79.6 BBD 159

-51.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

$12.31 BBD 24.61

-45.25%

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

$778 ฿25.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿484.6K

$6,368 BBD 12.7K

129.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Holetown: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $102 in Holetown. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 177% more than Holetown, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $514 in Holetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $343 in Holetown. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $102 in Holetown. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Holetown, where all-in costs run around $343, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Holetown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Holetown costs $343 versus $947 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.