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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $353 in Ismailia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $591 in Ismailia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $830 in Ismailia, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Ismailia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ismailia are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Ismailia 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$3.46 E£176

-39.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$16.03 E£815

22.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.92 E£199

44.13%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.09 E£55.5

66.06%

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

$0.71 ฿23.46

$0.31 E£15.96

129.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.39

$0.13 E£6.57

146.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.36 E£69.0

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿120

$2.02 E£103

79.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.89 E£45.09

120.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.42

$0.41 E£20.62

265.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.96

$0.65 E£32.78

106.15%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.22 E£62.0

85.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$3.84 E£195

323.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.2

$4.31 E£219

-31.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.67 E£390

29.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$1.57 E£79.9

63.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.75

$0.54 E£27.37

96.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.45 E£22.71

257.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$0.37 E£18.66

310.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.80

$0.27 E£13.80

370.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.09

$0.33 E£16.97

224.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.70

$0.25 E£12.72

188.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.73

$0.18 E£9.23

183.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.03 E£103

106.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿588

$5.80 E£295

208.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.11 E£56.4

52.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$2.02 E£103

40.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.45

$0.27 E£13.76

244.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,772

$3.91 E£199

1277.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.61

$0.41 E£20.65

200.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.97

$0.45 E£22.94

28.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.8

$2.01 E£102

20.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.46

$0.43 E£21.86

227.91%

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

$21.4K ฿705.5K

$29.0K E£1.5M

-26.04%

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

$27.3K ฿899.3K

$16.0K E£813.8K

70.69%

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

$63.7 ฿2,095

$14.02 E£713

354.14%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$7.41 E£376

73.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$8.09 E£411

149.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,275

$10.40 E£529

272.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$19.59 E£996

-79.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$2.03 E£103

232.02%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$69.5 E£3,532

1019.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.7K

$1,253 E£63.7K

1065.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,786

$14.00 E£711

287.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$9.70 E£493

162.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,104

$124 E£6,309

-24.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,416

$29.02 E£1,475

153.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$81.0 E£4,115

504.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,518

$33.04 E£1,679

775.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$127 E£6,460

602.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$78.0 E£3,965

562.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$491 E£25.0K

298.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$139 E£7,052

964.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$107 E£5,424

464.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

21.33

-73.89%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ismailia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $81.0 in Ismailia. 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 464% 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 $16.00 in Ismailia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $117 – making Ismailia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ismailia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 169% more than Ismailia, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $529 in Ismailia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ismailia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $69.5 in Ismailia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 105% 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 Ismailia, where all-in costs run around $353, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Ismailia 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. Ismailia costs $353 versus $947 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 Ismailia. 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.