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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 118.1% more expensive than Mandalay without rent, and 251.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 119.1% more expensive than Mandalay without rent, and 195.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$1.98 MMK 4,166
2.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$14.02 MMK 29.5K
32.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.31 MMK 2,753
52.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.83 MMK 1,734
2.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.98 MMK 2,051
-64.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$0.76 MMK 1,602
190.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$1.28 MMK 2,693
193.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$0.98 MMK 2,067
75.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.02 MMK 2,139
59.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$0.50 MMK 1,050
132.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$0.93 MMK 1,954
112.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$10.28 MMK 21.6K
54.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$6.03 MMK 12.7K
-47.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$7.18 MMK 15.1K
51.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$4.25 MMK 8,927
-37.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.01 MMK 2,128
20.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.28 MMK 2,688
32.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$0.68 MMK 1,433
133.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.26 MMK 2,650
4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.18 MMK 2,483
-0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.41 MMK 867
65.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.31 MMK 658
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$0.98 MMK 2,049
360.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$4.92 MMK 10.3K
287.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$0.56 MMK 1,181
216.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$0.42 MMK 882
221.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$4.07 MMK 8,542
97.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$6.69 MMK 14.1K
110.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$18.29 MMK 38.4K
130.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$235 MMK 494.2K
30.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$5,613 MMK 11.8M
163.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$201 MMK 422.4K
112.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$298 MMK 626.7K
168.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
$198 MMK 415.5K
230.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Mandalay: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities