Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Las Tunas Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Las Tunas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $387 in Las Tunas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $656 in Las Tunas, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $925 in Las Tunas, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Las Tunas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chiang Mai and Las Tunas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Las Tunas 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.04 CUP 72.9

-35.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$13.72 CUP 329

37.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.03 CUP 24.62

85.44%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.27 CUP 30.46

-33.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.98 CUP 23.52

-64.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.27 CUP 54.5

-2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.99 CUP 47.66

90.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.07 CUP 25.70

51.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.12 CUP 26.90

5.36%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.34 CUP 56.2

-14.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.51 CUP 108

252.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.47 CUP 155

-53.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$6.54 CUP 157

64.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$10.91 CUP 262

-76.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.42 CUP 10.10

190.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.13 CUP 27.09

50.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.92 CUP 22.17

71.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.12 CUP 26.76

17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.16 CUP 51.9

-45.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.26 CUP 6.27

157.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.99 CUP 47.75

-71.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.11 CUP 98.7

10.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$2.94 CUP 70.7

519.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$3.63 CUP 87.1

-49.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.97 CUP 47.20

63.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$15.08 CUP 362

175.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.04 CUP 121

30.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$1.02 CUP 24.41

466.67%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$39.36 CUP 945

38.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.44 CUP 946

-33.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$60.6 CUP 1,454

39.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$49.76 CUP 1,194

39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$40.18 CUP 964

1480.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Las Tunas: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1481% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $14.00 in Las Tunas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $217 – making Las Tunas 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 Las Tunas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 120% more than Las Tunas, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $580 in Las Tunas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Chiang Mai and $387 in Las Tunas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 12% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $387 in Las Tunas, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tunas costs $387 versus $852 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 Las Tunas. 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.