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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,117 in Koura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,725 in Koura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,333 in Koura, rent included.

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

Both Chiang Mai and Koura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Koura 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.02 LBP 986.4K

-82.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$61.1 LBP 5.5M

-69.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.19 LBP 732.8K

-4.52%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.24 LBP 289.8K

-39.81%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.63 LBP 146.2K

-47.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.88 LBP 79.2K

-60.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.56 LBP 318.3K

-40.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$5.09 LBP 455.1K

-26.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.71 LBP 152.8K

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.84 LBP 75.0K

94.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.82 LBP 162.5K

-37.36%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.12 LBP 279.1K

-38.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.52 LBP 1.0M

40.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$9.38 LBP 839.7K

-66.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$11.62 LBP 1.0M

-6.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.81 LBP 162.2K

51.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.45 LBP 129.6K

-16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.13 LBP 101.3K

43.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.05 LBP 93.6K

51.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.95 LBP 84.8K

47.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.00 LBP 89.3K

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.84 LBP 75.2K

-21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.53 LBP 47.0K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.54 LBP 227.7K

84.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.13 LBP 906.3K

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.23 LBP 110.5K

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.12 LBP 190.0K

52.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$2.05 LBP 183.4K

-56.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$5.03 LBP 450.4K

-71.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.23 LBP 110.4K

4.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$19.82 LBP 1.8M

-60.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.93 LBP 83.4K

36.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.7K LBP 3.1B

-38.62%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.4K LBP 2.5B

-18.99%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$217 LBP 19.4M

-68.19%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$36.98 LBP 3.3M

-61.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$37.61 LBP 3.4M

-52.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$25.42 LBP 2.3M

61.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.82 LBP 699.7K

-24.30%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$297 LBP 26.6M

0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$4,371 LBP 391.2M

242.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$69.9 LBP 6.3M

-21.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$45.31 LBP 4.1M

-40.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$120 LBP 10.8M

-29.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$95.4 LBP 8.5M

-26.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$250 LBP 22.4M

71.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$203 LBP 18.2M

16.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$454 LBP 40.6M

76.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$346 LBP 30.9M

49.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,154 LBP 103.3M

71.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$833 LBP 74.6M

77.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$591 LBP 52.9M

4.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

-55.20%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Koura: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $250 in Koura. 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 5% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $61.0 in Koura. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Koura – so Koura 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 Koura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koura 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,676 in Koura. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $61.0 in Koura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Koura – 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 Koura at $1,117. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koura it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,117 in Koura. 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, Koura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.