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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $982 in Karabuk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,505 in Karabuk, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,029 in Karabuk, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Karabuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Karabuk are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Karabuk 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.80 ₺313

-71.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$22.35 ₺1,027

-16.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.38 ₺385

-6.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.86 ₺131

-31.82%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.29 ₺59.3

-34.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.79 ₺36.47

-55.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.58 ₺119

-17.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.19 ₺101

70.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.74 ₺33.84

131.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.36 ₺16.67

352.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.11 ₺96.8

-45.97%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.42 ₺157

-43.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.79 ₺358

108.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.43 ₺296

-51.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.64 ₺581

-13.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$0.99 ₺45.69

177.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.50 ₺68.9

-19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.72 ₺33.31

125.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.99 ₺45.60

60.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.74 ₺34.13

89.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.72 ₺33.09

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.50 ₺22.93

32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.39 ₺18.00

35.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.13 ₺98.0

120.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$5.57 ₺256

235.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.98 ₺90.9

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.59 ₺119

24.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.66 ₺30.44

36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.51 ₺1,402

-37.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.78 ₺35.88

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.62 ₺28.29

108.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.85 ₺361

-0.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.17 ₺53.8

8.55%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$35.8K ₺1.6M

-40.51%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$38.7K ₺1.8M

-42.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$87.8 ₺4,034

-21.33%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$6.48 ₺298

117.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$12.93 ₺594

39.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$43.48 ₺1,998

-5.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$7.64 ₺351

-8.90%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.97 ₺228

19.11%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$311 ₺14.3K

-3.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$8,770 ₺403.0K

70.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$25.08 ₺1,152

118.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$35.01 ₺1,609

-23.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$51.6 ₺2,369

64.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$50.2 ₺2,304

40.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$503 ₺23.1K

-14.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$400 ₺18.4K

-40.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$902 ₺41.5K

-11.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$722 ₺33.2K

-28.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,282 ₺58.9K

54.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$928 ₺42.6K

58.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,290 ₺59.3K

-52.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-87.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Karabuk: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $503 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 109% higher in Karabuk, 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 $22.00 in Karabuk. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $185 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

Karabuk costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,473 in Karabuk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $311 in Karabuk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Karabuk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Karabuk at $982. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karabuk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $982 in Karabuk. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karabuk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.