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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $689 in Karabuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,073 in Karabuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,456 in Karabuk, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Karabuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karabuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Karabuk 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$8.34 ₺405

-74.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$25.22 ₺1,225

-21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.19 ₺398

-29.30%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$3.52 ₺171

-48.01%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.10 ₺53.2

-29.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.35 ₺16.90

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.69 ₺82.1

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$2.93 ₺142

26.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.89 ₺42.98

128.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.30 ₺14.39

433.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.69 ₺131

-47.21%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.77 ₺134

-21.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$6.02 ₺292

164.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$4.20 ₺204

-26.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.46 ₺508

-5.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.42 ₺69.2

85.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.77 ₺86.1

-37.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.74 ₺35.85

120.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.81 ₺39.40

88.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.51 ₺24.66

143.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.44 ₺21.22

156.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.43 ₺20.87

72.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.32 ₺15.67

56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$1.90 ₺92.3

125.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$5.10 ₺247

252.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.68 ₺81.5

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.10 ₺102

38.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.61 ₺29.44

54.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.64 ₺31.20

92.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.95 ₺46.30

-44.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.12 ₺54.3

28.57%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$41.4K ₺2.0M

-48.81%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$39.6K ₺1.9M

-31.06%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$79.2 ₺3,846

-18.03%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$5.17 ₺251

158.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$10.49 ₺509

98.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$17.77 ₺863

127.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$6.04 ₺293

-34.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$4.21 ₺204

59.38%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$462 ₺22.4K

70.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$6,273 ₺304.6K

141.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$20.30 ₺985

177.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$28.45 ₺1,382

-12.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$40.92 ₺1,987

126.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$41.95 ₺2,037

79.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$263 ₺12.8K

83.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$175 ₺8,503

64.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$470 ₺22.8K

93.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$338 ₺16.4K

57.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,657 ₺80.5K

19.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$615 ₺29.9K

135.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$1,245 ₺60.4K

-51.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-86.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Karabuk: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $263 in Karabuk. 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 106% higher in Karabuk, 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 $25.00 in Karabuk. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $160 in Karabuk – so Karabuk 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 Karabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Karabuk, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,034 in Karabuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karabuk, 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 $25.00 in Karabuk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 Karabuk, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Karabuk 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. Karabuk costs $689 versus $950 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 Karabuk. 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.