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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,221 in Kelcyre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,882 in Kelcyre, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,544 in Kelcyre, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Kelcyre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kelcyre are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kelcyre 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$10.05 ALL 794

-79.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$53.3 ALL 4,208

-62.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$11.17 ALL 882

-48.16%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$2.38 ALL 188

-23.11%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$2.49 ALL 197

-68.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.35 ALL 106

-77.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$3.58 ALL 283

-34.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$4.25 ALL 336

-12.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.30 ALL 182

-11.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.23 ALL 97.3

30.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.41 ALL 191

-41.08%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.79 ALL 299

-42.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.66 ALL 1,079

16.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$9.33 ALL 737

-67.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$17.26 ALL 1,363

-42.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.94 ALL 153

35.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.50 ALL 198

-56.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.29 ALL 181

-28.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.86 ALL 147

-17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.03 ALL 81.4

20.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.29 ALL 102

-12.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.49 ALL 117

-50.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.80 ALL 63.2

-37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$5.00 ALL 395

-14.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.39 ALL 900

57.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.79 ALL 142

-5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.05 ALL 162

41.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.48 ALL 38.17

95.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.02 ALL 1,582

176.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$3.87 ALL 306

-68.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$3.83 ALL 303

-86.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$19.05 ALL 1,505

-87.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$2.40 ALL 190

-40.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$35.3K ALL 2.8M

-39.93%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$37.0K ALL 2.9M

-26.20%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$103 ALL 8,146

-37.05%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$18.88 ALL 1,491

-29.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$20.80 ALL 1,643

0.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$57.7 ALL 4,559

-29.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$9.98 ALL 788

-32.77%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$349 ALL 27.6K

125.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$8,304 ALL 655.8K

82.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$49.80 ALL 3,933

12.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$48.27 ALL 3,812

-48.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$123 ALL 9,704

-24.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$117 ALL 9,203

-35.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$490 ALL 38.7K

-1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$336 ALL 26.6K

-14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$724 ALL 57.2K

25.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$473 ALL 37.4K

12.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,875 ALL 148.1K

5.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$1,256 ALL 99.2K

15.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.64

-1.24%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kelcyre: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $490 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Kelcyre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $300 – 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 29% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,832 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $349 in Kelcyre. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $950, than in Kelcyre at $1,221. 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 $950 versus $1,221 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.