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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,125 in Indjija, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,668 in Indjija, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,211 in Indjija, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 23% cheaper than Indjija, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Indjija are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Indjija 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$9.10 RSD 915

-78.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$42.17 RSD 4,241

-55.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$9.58 RSD 963

-18.37%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.04 RSD 206

-4.41%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.20 RSD 221

-61.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.33 RSD 134

-73.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.90 RSD 291

-26.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.39 RSD 341

10.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.38 RSD 139

23.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.61 RSD 61.3

167.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.98 RSD 199

-42.42%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.67 RSD 269

-27.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.35 RSD 940

73.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.97 RSD 701

-55.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.69 RSD 1,176

-6.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.29 RSD 130

113.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.84 RSD 185

-34.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.64 RSD 165

-1.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.25 RSD 226

-29.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.93 RSD 94.0

50.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.89 RSD 89.3

31.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.76 RSD 76.8

-13.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.70 RSD 70.6

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.28 RSD 430

9.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.30 RSD 634

196.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.95 RSD 95.9

89.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.19 RSD 220

47.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.94 RSD 94.2

-4.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$27.64 RSD 2,779

-30.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.51 RSD 152

-6.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.42 RSD 42.32

207.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$5.02 RSD 505

56.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.92 RSD 194

-33.85%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$30.7K RSD 3.1M

-30.70%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.1K RSD 2.6M

-14.91%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$173 RSD 17.4K

-60.17%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.96 RSD 2,209

-35.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$33.34 RSD 3,353

-46.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$30.71 RSD 3,088

33.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$16.79 RSD 1,688

-58.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.32 RSD 636

-6.33%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$179 RSD 18.0K

67.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,880 RSD 390.2K

285.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$87.2 RSD 8,764

-37.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$45.41 RSD 4,567

-41.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$116 RSD 11.7K

-26.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$121 RSD 12.1K

-41.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$377 RSD 37.9K

13.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$295 RSD 29.7K

-19.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$570 RSD 57.3K

40.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$418 RSD 42.0K

23.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,069 RSD 208.0K

-4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,517 RSD 152.5K

-2.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$566 RSD 56.9K

9.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.31

-31.60%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Indjija: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $377 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 9% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Indjija. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $210 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 30% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,687 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $179 in Indjija. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% 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 $866, than in Indjija at $1,125. 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 $866 versus $1,125 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.