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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $784 in Isparta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,211 in Isparta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,637 in Isparta, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Isparta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Isparta are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Isparta 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$7.38 ₺359

-71.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$28.93 ₺1,408

-32.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.29 ₺306

-9.86%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$2.77 ₺135

-34.66%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.00 ₺48.90

-23.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.78 ₺37.75

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.08 ₺198

-45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.22 ₺205

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.97 ₺47.20

111.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.93 ₺45.17

62.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.84 ₺89.6

-23.91%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.86 ₺90.5

21.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$8.49 ₺413

90.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.63 ₺225

-37.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$20.33 ₺989

-53.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.96 ₺95.3

36.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.66 ₺80.7

-34.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.96 ₺46.58

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.07 ₺52.0

36.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.42 ₺20.67

204.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.45 ₺22.02

135.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.90 ₺43.80

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.64 ₺31.36

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.38 ₺116

77.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.45 ₺508

75.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.00 ₺97.3

-18.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$3.52 ₺171

-17.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$2.60 ₺126

-55.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$1.27 ₺61.7

-54.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$4.84 ₺236

-50.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.32 ₺64.1

9.85%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$42.4K ₺2.1M

-50.39%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$40.3K ₺2.0M

-34.49%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$38.39 ₺1,868

65.80%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$9.25 ₺450

39.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$13.42 ₺653

52.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$61.0 ₺2,967

-36.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$5.16 ₺251

27.52%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$204 ₺9,942

283.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$4,089 ₺199.0K

258.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$20.58 ₺1,002

167.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$27.11 ₺1,319

-8.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$60.5 ₺2,946

55.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$44.96 ₺2,188

64.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$246 ₺12.0K

99.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$208 ₺10.1K

38.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$363 ₺17.7K

145.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$301 ₺14.7K

72.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$1,244 ₺60.5K

-51.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-87.05%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Isparta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $246 in Isparta. 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 107% higher in Isparta, 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 $29.00 in Isparta. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $224 in Isparta – so Isparta 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 Isparta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 19% more than Isparta, 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 $1,176 in Isparta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $29.00 in Isparta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Isparta, where all-in costs run around $784, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Isparta 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. Isparta costs $784 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 Isparta. 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.