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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $706 in Irpin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,066 in Irpin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,427 in Irpin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Irpin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Irpin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Irpin 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.71 ₴255

-63.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$22.91 ₴1,022

-14.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.22 ₴233

8.62%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.10 ₴48.92

64.55%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.63 ₴28.00

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.47 ₴21.08

-25.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.15 ₴51.3

92.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.83 ₴81.8

107.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.11 ₴49.47

84.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.87 ₴38.75

73.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.27 ₴56.5

10.24%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.75 ₴78.2

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$6.47 ₴288

150.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$3.73 ₴166

-22.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$6.13 ₴273

53.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.20 ₴53.5

123.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.46 ₴65.0

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.92 ₴85.5

-15.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.64 ₴118

-44.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.61 ₴27.27

109.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.49 ₴21.94

116.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.47 ₴65.4

-51.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.52 ₴23.35

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.11 ₴139

36.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$4.07 ₴182

349.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.86 ₴38.35

89.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.37 ₴61.1

111.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.32 ₴14.49

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$11.57 ₴516

364.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.85 ₴82.6

-36.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.43 ₴19.35

34.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$4.46 ₴199

-46.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.48 ₴66.1

-2.03%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$30.2K ₴1.3M

-30.42%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$21.9K ₴978.6K

20.44%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$51.6 ₴2,302

23.35%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$5.93 ₴264

117.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$6.61 ₴295

210.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$26.13 ₴1,165

49.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$13.98 ₴623

-71.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.68 ₴209

40.60%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$274 ₴12.2K

186.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$4,264 ₴190.2K

244.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$44.65 ₴1,991

23.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$40.23 ₴1,794

-38.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$91.0 ₴4,057

3.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$119 ₴5,326

-38.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$309 ₴13.8K

58.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$203 ₴9,073

41.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$467 ₴20.8K

90.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$317 ₴14.1K

64.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,064 ₴47.4K

85.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$795 ₴35.5K

81.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$447 ₴19.9K

34.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

18.25

-69.48%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Irpin: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $309 in Irpin. 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 35% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Irpin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $154 in Irpin – so Irpin 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 Irpin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 32% more than Irpin, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,059 in Irpin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Irpin, 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 $274 in Irpin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Irpin, where all-in costs run around $706, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Irpin 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. Irpin costs $706 versus $932 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 Irpin. 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.