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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,012 in Iernut, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,519 in Iernut, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,026 in Iernut, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Iernut are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Iernut 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$8.46 RON 38.84

-76.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$39.82 RON 183

-53.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.83 RON 35.93

-4.47%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.30 RON 10.58

-12.17%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.33 RON 6.09

-36.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$1.12 RON 5.14

-67.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.27 RON 10.43

-5.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.71 RON 12.44

32.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.50 RON 6.87

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.18 RON 5.40

33.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.63 RON 7.46

-26.99%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.94 RON 13.49

-34.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$8.41 RON 38.61

92.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.11 RON 32.62

-57.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.93 RON 54.8

-8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.02 RON 4.67

165.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.35 RON 6.21

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.49 RON 6.83

13.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.92 RON 8.82

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.94 RON 4.29

46.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.93 RON 4.25

29.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.80 RON 3.69

-16.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.80 RON 3.67

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$5.96 RON 27.34

-22.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$7.70 RON 35.33

128.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.07 RON 4.92

73.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.70 RON 7.80

94.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.72 RON 3.28

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$19.66 RON 90.2

-1.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.73 RON 3.33

86.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.74 RON 3.42

81.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.06 RON 32.41

16.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.58 RON 7.27

-22.78%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$28.0K RON 128.6K

-23.78%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$27.4K RON 125.9K

-17.86%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$166 RON 763

-57.50%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.28 RON 38.02

69.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$9.26 RON 42.50

88.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$41.27 RON 189

2.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$19.44 RON 89.2

-64.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$5.91 RON 27.13

0.17%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$451 RON 2,069

-31.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$6,664 RON 30.6K

123.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$66.2 RON 304

-15.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$32.47 RON 149

-19.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$74.9 RON 344

10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$79.8 RON 366

-11.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$382 RON 1,755

12.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$295 RON 1,352

-18.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$585 RON 2,687

40.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$435 RON 1,995

17.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,762 RON 8,090

8.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,593 RON 7,313

-7.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

-35.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Iernut: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $382 in Iernut. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $40.00 in Iernut. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $212 in Iernut – so Iernut 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 Iernut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iernut costs about 18% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,519 in Iernut. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $451 in Iernut. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Iernut – 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 $861, than in Iernut at $1,012. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iernut it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,012 in Iernut. 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, Iernut makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.