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Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Island Garden City of Samal

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 14.3% more expensive than Island Garden City of Samal without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 38.1% more expensive than Island Garden City of Samal without rent, and 24.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$1.35 โ‚ฑ80.2
45.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$12.62 โ‚ฑ750
48.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$4.64 โ‚ฑ276
70.69%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.7
$2.13 โ‚ฑ126
-5.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.45
$0.86 โ‚ฑ51.1
-2.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.07
$0.50 โ‚ฑ29.50
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$1.45 โ‚ฑ86.4
53.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$1.75 โ‚ฑ104
105.14%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.4
$1.20 โ‚ฑ71.6
39.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$0.59 โ‚ฑ35.18
174.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.83
$0.69 โ‚ฑ40.91
73.91%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$2.01 โ‚ฑ120
-3.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$5.98 โ‚ฑ355
167.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$3.23 โ‚ฑ192
-2.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ344
$5.20 โ‚ฑ309
110.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$2.85 โ‚ฑ169
-6.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.99
$1.13 โ‚ฑ67.1
4.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$2.33 โ‚ฑ139
-29.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.83
$1.27 โ‚ฑ75.8
25.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.64
$2.20 โ‚ฑ131
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.49
$1.62 โ‚ฑ96.0
-26.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.20
$0.93 โ‚ฑ55.3
-23.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.75
$0.46 โ‚ฑ27.19
21.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$2.68 โ‚ฑ159
73.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$5.91 โ‚ฑ351
220.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.7
$1.28 โ‚ฑ76.2
38.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$1.21 โ‚ฑ71.9
164.46%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.32
$0.28 โ‚ฑ16.73
221.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.78
$0.74 โ‚ฑ43.96
83.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.37
$0.08 โ‚ฑ4.75
1587.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$2.10 โ‚ฑ125
288.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.43
$1.09 โ‚ฑ64.9
11.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.8K
$21.8K โ‚ฑ1.3M
-2.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.8K
$21.2K โ‚ฑ1.3M
2.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$102 โ‚ฑ6,034
-30.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$33.24 โ‚ฑ1,975
-58.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$36.03 โ‚ฑ2,142
-50.04%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,314
$33.73 โ‚ฑ2,005
23.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
$4.56 โ‚ฑ271
49.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$4.31 โ‚ฑ256
32.71%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,693
$121 โ‚ฑ7,185
155.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.7K
$4,342 โ‚ฑ258.1K
241.15%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,756
$46.18 โ‚ฑ2,745
20.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ840
$30.19 โ‚ฑ1,794
-11.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,658
$76.8 โ‚ฑ4,565
10.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,227
$67.7 โ‚ฑ4,020
4.70%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$264 โ‚ฑ15.7K
62.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,439
$176 โ‚ฑ10.5K
34.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$598 โ‚ฑ35.6K
35.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$398 โ‚ฑ23.6K
25.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$2,310 โ‚ฑ137.3K
-4.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$762 โ‚ฑ45.3K
110.13%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Island Garden City of Samal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.56
-47.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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