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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,014 in Maltepe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,573 in Maltepe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,133 in Maltepe, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 8% cheaper than Maltepe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Maltepe are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Maltepe 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$8.48 ₺413

-75.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$31.22 ₺1,522

-37.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.44 ₺363

-23.79%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.43 ₺167

-47.23%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.97 ₺47.26

-20.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.40 ₺19.57

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.33 ₺114

-5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.12 ₺152

21.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.97 ₺47.26

111.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.83 ₺40.66

81.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.28 ₺111

-38.60%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.31 ₺112

-2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$10.11 ₺493

60.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.25 ₺256

-44.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$19.07 ₺930

-50.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.68 ₺81.9

59.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.96 ₺95.4

-44.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.08 ₺52.8

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.25 ₺61.2

16.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.57 ₺27.92

124.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.38 ₺18.67

178.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.76 ₺37.10

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.57 ₺27.86

-7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.01 ₺97.8

110.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$12.20 ₺595

49.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$2.06 ₺101

-20.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.14 ₺104

35.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.75 ₺36.58

17.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$33.31 ₺1,624

61.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.05 ₺51.2

11.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.92 ₺45.03

-36.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$7.28 ₺355

-67.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.30 ₺63.2

11.54%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$44.0K ₺2.1M

-52.26%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$41.8K ₺2.0M

-36.83%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$81.4 ₺3,967

-21.77%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$11.19 ₺546

15.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$13.60 ₺663

50.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$52.8 ₺2,573

-26.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.11 ₺298

7.69%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$573 ₺27.9K

36.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$12.2K ₺593.5K

20.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$44.27 ₺2,159

24.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$35.82 ₺1,747

-30.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$82.1 ₺4,001

14.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$94.2 ₺4,591

-21.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$408 ₺19.9K

20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$309 ₺15.1K

-6.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$781 ₺38.1K

14.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$576 ₺28.1K

-9.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,322 ₺64.5K

49.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,037 ₺50.6K

39.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

41.26

-86.50%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maltepe: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $408 in Maltepe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Maltepe. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Maltepe – so Maltepe 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 Maltepe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maltepe costs about 9% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,521 in Maltepe. 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $573 in Maltepe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Maltepe – 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 Maltepe at $1,014. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maltepe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,014 in Maltepe. 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, Maltepe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.