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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $834 in Kutahya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,369 in Kutahya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,904 in Kutahya, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Kutahya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Kutahya are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Kutahya 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$6.84 ₺333

-69.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$40.70 ₺1,985

-51.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.16 ₺446

-38.10%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.37 ₺164

-46.29%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.00 ₺48.80

-23.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.43 ₺20.87

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$5.18 ₺252

-57.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$6.03 ₺294

-37.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.18 ₺57.4

73.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.38 ₺18.29

297.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.52 ₺74.4

-7.89%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.45 ₺70.5

55.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$9.20 ₺449

75.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.62 ₺128

10.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$18.20 ₺888

-48.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$0.52 ₺25.54

415.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.80 ₺87.8

-39.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.75 ₺36.35

116.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.74 ₺36.17

97.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.32 ₺15.68

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.30 ₺14.57

253.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.50 ₺24.14

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.49 ₺23.70

8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.22 ₺108

90.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$12.48 ₺609

46.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$2.27 ₺111

-28.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.17 ₺155

-8.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.55 ₺26.91

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$25.63 ₺1,250

109.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.00 ₺48.84

17.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.32 ₺15.68

81.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$6.56 ₺320

-63.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.36 ₺66.2

6.62%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$49.8K ₺2.4M

-57.84%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$42.0K ₺2.0M

-37.04%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$93.2 ₺4,542

-31.68%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$11.04 ₺538

16.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$15.28 ₺745

34.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$31.13 ₺1,518

25.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$20.83 ₺1,016

-81.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.00 ₺292

9.67%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$1,039 ₺50.6K

-24.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$18.4K ₺898.8K

-20.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$18.53 ₺904

197.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$20.34 ₺992

21.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$82.0 ₺3,998

14.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$96.1 ₺4,686

-23.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$210 ₺10.2K

133.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$188 ₺9,164

53.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$504 ₺24.6K

76.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$418 ₺20.4K

24.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$4,438 ₺216.4K

-55.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$2,446 ₺119.3K

-40.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$711 ₺34.7K

-15.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-86.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kutahya: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $210 in Kutahya. 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 18% higher in Kutahya, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Kutahya. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $195 in Kutahya – so Kutahya 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 Kutahya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 12% more than Kutahya, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,251 in Kutahya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kutahya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,039 in Kutahya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kutahya, where all-in costs run around $834, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Kutahya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kutahya costs $834 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Kutahya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.