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

Name: Krabi
Address: Krabi, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,001 in Krabi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,452 in Krabi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,903 in Krabi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% cheaper than Krabi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Krabi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Krabi 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.12 ฿102

-37.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$24.63 ฿804

-24.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.03 ฿197

29.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.67 ฿87.3

-26.97%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.95 ฿30.88

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.40 ฿12.98

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.39 ฿78.0

-10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.83 ฿92.4

31.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$2.51 ฿82.1

-31.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.45 ฿80.0

-33.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.94 ฿63.5

-41.24%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.16 ฿70.6

-10.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$27.55 ฿900

-41.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.61 ฿118

-13.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.83 ฿256

39.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.47 ฿80.5

11.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.89 ฿28.91

35.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.89 ฿61.8

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.95 ฿63.6

-18.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.50 ฿48.88

-6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.35 ฿44.09

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.48 ฿48.42

-55.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.44 ฿14.51

20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.65 ฿119

28.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$10.98 ฿358

69.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.70 ฿55.6

5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.12 ฿102

3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.20 ฿39.20

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.11 ฿36.11

27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.19 ฿38.77

8.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.15 ฿201

27.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.20 ฿39.19

5.83%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.2K ฿921.3K

-24.58%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.9K ฿912.0K

-20.46%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$43.78 ฿1,430

57.77%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.83 ฿419

9.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$27.96 ฿913

-35.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$40.95 ฿1,338

0.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.26 ฿400

-43.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$6.78 ฿222

-12.68%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$213 ฿6,951

40.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$7,852 ฿256.4K

90.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$32.98 ฿1,077

65.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$34.73 ฿1,134

-22.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$108 ฿3,528

-21.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$76.3 ฿2,491

-7.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$498 ฿16.3K

-14.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$372 ฿12.1K

-36.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$596 ฿19.5K

34.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$445 ฿14.5K

15.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,212 ฿39.6K

62.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,070 ฿35.0K

37.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$732 ฿23.9K

-15.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

-8.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Krabi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $498 in Krabi. 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 19% higher in Krabi, 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 $25.00 in Krabi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $280 – 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 Krabi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Krabi costs about 16% 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 $1,502 in Krabi. 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 $25.00 in Krabi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Krabi, 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 Krabi at $1,001. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Krabi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,001 in Krabi. 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, Krabi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.