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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,336 in Kingstown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,100 in Kingstown, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,865 in Kingstown, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 35% cheaper than Kingstown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Kingstown is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$7.49 EC$20.22

-74.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$68.9 EC$186

-72.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$11.04 EC$29.82

-29.17%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.43 EC$9.25

-43.15%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.11 EC$5.70

-59.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.06 EC$5.57

-83.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.83 EC$4.94

16.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.29 EC$6.17

62.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.29 EC$8.89

-48.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.06 EC$5.56

-20.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.71 EC$4.61

-33.33%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.57 EC$12.33

-57.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.66 EC$31.47

39.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.69 EC$12.66

-33.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.50 EC$33.76

-12.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$9.02 EC$24.36

-69.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.94 EC$7.95

-58.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$8.65 EC$23.36

-81.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$5.16 EC$13.92

-69.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$3.88 EC$10.48

-63.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$3.32 EC$8.98

-64.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$4.08 EC$11.01

-83.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$2.87 EC$7.76

-81.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.11 EC$11.09

14.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$16.95 EC$45.77

10.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.13 EC$5.75

-15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.32 EC$6.26

39.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.21 EC$3.28

-25.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$50.2 EC$136

-61.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$10.97 EC$29.62

-87.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.80 EC$4.85

-28.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$29.05 EC$78.4

-73.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$3.09 EC$8.35

-58.90%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$38.5K EC$103.9K

-44.71%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$30.7K EC$82.9K

-27.65%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$74.3 EC$201

-7.05%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$28.39 EC$76.6

-50.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$55.0 EC$148

-67.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$31.81 EC$85.9

29.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$4.58 EC$12.36

51.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.59 EC$12.38

28.98%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$121 EC$328

146.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$79.8 EC$215

-31.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$67.3 EC$182

-60.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$91.8 EC$248

-7.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$85.9 EC$232

-17.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$330 EC$891

29.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$326 EC$879

-27.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$554 EC$1,495

44.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$477 EC$1,288

8.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$597 EC$1,612

230.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$593 EC$1,600

148.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,046 EC$2,825

-40.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-33.33%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kingstown: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $330 in Kingstown. 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 69% higher in Kingstown, 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 $69.0 in Kingstown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $416 – 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 Kingstown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingstown costs about 54% 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 $2,003 in Kingstown. 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 $121 in Kingstown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% more in Kingstown, 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 $866, than in Kingstown at $1,336. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingstown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,336 in Kingstown. 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, Kingstown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.