🙂A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $996 in Kahramanmaras, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,009 in Kahramanmaras, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,021 in Kahramanmaras, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Kahramanmaras, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Kahramanmaras are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Kahramanmaras26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿64.0
$6.23₺281
-68.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81฿615
$30.49₺1,376
-38.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92฿259
$5.19₺234
52.60%
Cappuccino
$1.91฿62.6
$3.02₺136
-36.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.41
$1.38₺62.3
-39.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.51
$0.49₺22.13
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$3.87₺175
-42.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$5.11₺231
-25.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64฿53.5
$0.77₺34.82
112.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62฿53.1
$0.37₺16.51
337.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿38.62
$1.24₺56.1
-4.84%
Eggs
$2.01฿65.8
$2.14₺96.6
-6.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89฿520
$7.70₺348
106.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.5
$5.21₺235
-42.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿352
$16.81₺759
-35.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61฿85.5
$1.27₺57.1
105.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.88
$2.06₺92.9
-40.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70฿55.7
$1.00₺45.29
70.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.5
$1.42₺64.3
11.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32฿43.14
$0.79₺35.50
67.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.23
$0.64₺28.90
82.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.89₺40.24
-24.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.32
$0.40₺17.90
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53฿148
$2.20₺99.4
105.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20฿595
$3.96₺179
359.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿60.0
$2.04₺92.1
-10.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$2.90₺131
11.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿29.00
$0.43₺19.60
106.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38฿634
$25.16₺1,136
-22.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35฿44.20
$0.74₺33.30
82.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35฿44.05
$0.64₺29.02
110.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25฿270
$4.95₺223
66.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.64
$1.30₺58.6
-2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K฿691.8K
$44.1K₺2.0M
-52.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿735.3K
$40.9K₺1.8M
-45.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2฿2,294
$35.59₺1,606
97.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿450
$13.36₺603
3.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60฿575
$13.66₺617
28.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57฿1,360
$101₺4,568
-58.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿189
$3.92₺177
47.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306฿10.0K
$460₺20.7K
-33.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K฿484.8K
$4,977₺224.7K
197.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4฿1,778
$64.5₺2,913
-15.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14฿855
$50.1₺2,264
-47.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5฿2,764
$63.9₺2,883
32.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4฿2,270
$50.0₺2,259
38.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424฿13.9K
$409₺18.5K
3.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238฿7,788
$359₺16.2K
-33.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.0K
$1,802₺81.3K
-54.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.8K
$1,548₺69.9K
-66.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049฿67.0K
$4,868₺219.7K
-57.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523฿49.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Kahramanmaras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635฿20.8K
$1,145₺51.7K
-44.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
32
-84.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kahramanmaras: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $409 in Kahramanmaras. 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 80% higher in Kahramanmaras, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Kahramanmaras. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $190 in Kahramanmaras – so Kahramanmaras 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 Kahramanmaras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
Kahramanmaras costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Kahramanmaras?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,494 in Kahramanmaras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Kahramanmaras?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $460 in Kahramanmaras. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Kahramanmaras – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $996 in Kahramanmaras, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $996 in Kahramanmaras. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Kahramanmaras?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Kahramanmaras?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kahramanmaras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared