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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,087 in Indjija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,690 in Indjija, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,293 in Indjija, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Indjija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Indjija are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Indjija 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.57 RSD 1,077

-80.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$43.83 RSD 4,466

-55.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$11.69 RSD 1,191

-51.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.06 RSD 210

-12.14%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$2.38 RSD 243

-67.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.46 RSD 149

-76.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.87 RSD 292

-23.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.37 RSD 344

12.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.36 RSD 138

50.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.64 RSD 65.1

135.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.98 RSD 202

-29.29%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.54 RSD 259

-11.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.06 RSD 1,025

60.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.59 RSD 672

-55.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$14.56 RSD 1,483

-35.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.29 RSD 131

107.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.95 RSD 199

-44.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.70 RSD 173

-4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.32 RSD 237

-37.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.03 RSD 105

24.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.66 RSD 66.8

60.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.04 RSD 106

-30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.66 RSD 67.5

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.53 RSD 462

-6.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.78 RSD 793

135.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.96 RSD 97.9

69.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.33 RSD 237

24.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$1.00 RSD 102

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$31.93 RSD 3,254

68.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$2.26 RSD 230

-48.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.92 RSD 93.3

-36.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.55 RSD 566

-56.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.91 RSD 194

-24.08%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.7K RSD 3.2M

-33.63%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$26.5K RSD 2.7M

-0.24%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$194 RSD 19.8K

-67.21%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$23.09 RSD 2,352

-44.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$32.01 RSD 3,262

-35.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$32.56 RSD 3,318

19.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$13.63 RSD 1,389

-71.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.87 RSD 599

12.10%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$293 RSD 29.9K

167.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$7,919 RSD 807.0K

85.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$73.5 RSD 7,490

-25.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$59.6 RSD 6,070

-58.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$124 RSD 12.7K

-24.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$119 RSD 12.2K

-38.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$278 RSD 28.3K

76.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$181 RSD 18.5K

58.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$453 RSD 46.1K

96.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$382 RSD 38.9K

36.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,107 RSD 214.7K

-6.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,599 RSD 162.9K

-9.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$573 RSD 58.4K

4.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.23

6.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Indjija: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $278 in Indjija. 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 5% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Indjija. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Indjija – so Indjija 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 Indjija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Indjija costs about 17% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,631 in Indjija. 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $293 in Indjija. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Indjija – 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 Indjija at $1,087. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Indjija it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,087 in Indjija. 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, Indjija makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.