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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Madang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,213 in Madang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,887 in Madang, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 58% more than Madang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Madang are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Madang 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$6.86 PGK 29.77

-71.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$37.85 PGK 164

-50.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$10.79 PGK 46.81

-26.60%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.47 PGK 10.70

-22.67%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.18 PGK 5.11

-28.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.73 PGK 3.19

-52.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.82 PGK 12.24

-21.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.33 PGK 18.81

-12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.89 PGK 8.21

-13.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.46 PGK 6.33

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.45 PGK 6.30

-18.62%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.31 PGK 14.36

-39.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.72 PGK 24.84

-47.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.38 PGK 36.36

28.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$5.24 PGK 22.75

-50.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.33 PGK 10.12

-47.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.94 PGK 4.06

80.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.93 PGK 8.38

-18.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$4.70 PGK 20.42

-71.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.95 PGK 12.80

-60.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$6.14 PGK 26.65

-89.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.47 PGK 2.03

19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.04 PGK 21.87

-10.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$11.32 PGK 49.15

60.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.10 PGK 9.12

-12.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.46 PGK 10.66

31.30%

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

$1.10 PGK 4.76

15.45%

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

$66.2 PGK 287

5.95%

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

$13.77 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$24.19 PGK 105

-27.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$80.2 PGK 348

281.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,987 PGK 26.0K

147.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$19.42 PGK 84.3

179.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$14.64 PGK 63.5

78.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$66.5 PGK 288

27.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$29.18 PGK 127

137.94%

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

$971 PGK 4,214

-15.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$606 PGK 2,631

-15.02%

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

$234 PGK 1,016

171.43%

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 Madang: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 171% 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 $38.00 in Madang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $248 – 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 Madang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 58% more than Madang, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $808 in Madang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $38.00 in Madang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $539 in Madang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madang costs $539 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 Madang. 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.