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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $943 in Mahebourg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,195 in Mahebourg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,446 in Mahebourg, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Mahebourg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Mahebourg are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Mahebourg 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$5.09 MUR 242

-59.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$38.85 MUR 1,845

-49.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$5.10 MUR 242

11.18%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.62 MUR 125

-30.92%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.17 MUR 55.7

-34.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.66 MUR 31.33

-46.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.60 MUR 123

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.88 MUR 232

-22.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.61 MUR 76.5

27.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.78 MUR 37.07

93.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.10 MUR 52.5

27.27%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.64 MUR 125

-14.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$5.45 MUR 259

197.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.35 MUR 301

-54.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$11.50 MUR 546

-18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.77 MUR 132

-3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$2.61 MUR 124

-58.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.43 MUR 68.0

13.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$2.91 MUR 138

-49.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.01 MUR 48.20

26.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.02 MUR 48.39

3.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.69 MUR 32.58

4.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.86 MUR 40.71

-38.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.41 MUR 304

-34.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$8.28 MUR 393

120.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.65 MUR 78.3

-1.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.32 MUR 110

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$4.19 MUR 199

-72.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$3.14 MUR 149

-81.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$20.96 MUR 995

-88.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.35 MUR 64.1

7.41%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$37.2K MUR 1.8M

-43.54%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$31.4K MUR 1.5M

-15.89%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$45.56 MUR 2,164

39.71%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.59 MUR 503

21.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$29.34 MUR 1,394

-30.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.40 MUR 304

2.81%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$128 MUR 6,103

510.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$7,730 MUR 367.2K

89.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$76.5 MUR 3,633

-27.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$74.3 MUR 3,530

-66.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$122 MUR 5,792

-22.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$76.6 MUR 3,639

-3.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$346 MUR 16.4K

-16.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.67

-16.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mahebourg: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Mahebourg. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Mahebourg – so Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahebourg costs about 1% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,415 in Mahebourg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $39.00 in Mahebourg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Mahebourg – 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 $932, than in Mahebourg at $943. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mahebourg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $943 in Mahebourg. 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, Mahebourg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.