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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,227 in Kelcyre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,890 in Kelcyre, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,552 in Kelcyre, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Kelcyre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kelcyre are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kelcyre 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$11.58 ALL 944

-83.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$58.1 ALL 4,740

-68.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$9.16 ALL 747

-18.34%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.99 ALL 163

1.51%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$1.84 ALL 150

-53.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.91 ALL 74.2

-60.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.98 ALL 243

-28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.09 ALL 333

-12.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$2.09 ALL 170

-21.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.10 ALL 89.6

42.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.23 ALL 182

-46.64%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.96 ALL 323

-51.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$13.17 ALL 1,074

22.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$7.72 ALL 630

-61.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$15.71 ALL 1,281

-30.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.72 ALL 140

57.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$2.65 ALL 216

-55.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$2.06 ALL 168

-17.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.91 ALL 156

-16.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.31 ALL 107

5.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.32 ALL 107

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.50 ALL 123

-55.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.74 ALL 60.4

-24.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.26 ALL 347

8.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$10.46 ALL 853

68.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.59 ALL 129

16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.15 ALL 175

53.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.49 ALL 39.76

79.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$19.04 ALL 1,553

1.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$3.58 ALL 292

-62.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$3.18 ALL 259

-57.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$17.87 ALL 1,457

-54.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$2.14 ALL 175

-42.99%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$40.0K ALL 3.3M

-46.61%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$35.9K ALL 2.9M

-37.18%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$105 ALL 8,563

-32.70%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$18.22 ALL 1,485

-22.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$18.45 ALL 1,504

-5.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$55.4 ALL 4,514

-23.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$25.70 ALL 2,096

-73.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$9.62 ALL 785

-38.46%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$160 ALL 13.1K

92.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$5,523 ALL 450.4K

169.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$68.0 ALL 5,549

-18.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$50.1 ALL 4,083

-47.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$108 ALL 8,842

-23.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$129 ALL 10.5K

-45.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$447 ALL 36.4K

-3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$337 ALL 27.5K

-29.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$613 ALL 50.0K

34.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$431 ALL 35.2K

18.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,732 ALL 141.2K

10.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,208 ALL 98.5K

21.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.52

-9.42%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kelcyre: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $447 in Kelcyre. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $58.0 in Kelcyre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $279 – making Chiang Mai 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 Kelcyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kelcyre costs about 43% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,841 in Kelcyre. 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $160 in Kelcyre. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Kelcyre, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Kelcyre at $1,227. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kelcyre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,227 in Kelcyre. 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, Kelcyre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.