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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 157.4% more expensive than Mandalay without rent, and 259.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 88.3% more expensive than Mandalay without rent, and 206% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.03 MMK 4,240
-0.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$14.12 MMK 29.6K
33.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.32 MMK 2,769
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.87 MMK 1,827
-5.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.03 MMK 2,147
-67.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$0.78 MMK 1,631
171.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$1.23 MMK 2,572
203.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.97 MMK 2,039
69.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.98 MMK 2,046
60.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$0.5 MMK 1,037
138.00%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1 MMK 2,090
98.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$10.33 MMK 21.6K
54.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.07 MMK 12.7K
-48.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.06 MMK 14.8K
58.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.18 MMK 8,754
-33.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.97 MMK 2,038
25.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.34 MMK 2,797
27.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.71 MMK 1,497
118.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.31 MMK 2,751
2.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.17 MMK 2,452
3.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.39 MMK 808
84.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.31 MMK 650
70.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$1.02 MMK 2,142
362.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$4.95 MMK 10.4K
271.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$0.6 MMK 1,253
198.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.42 MMK 871
221.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$3.95 MMK 8,278
98.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$6.61 MMK 13.8K
107.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$17.77 MMK 37.2K
134.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$240 MMK 501.8K
28.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$5,754 MMK 12M
155.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$202 MMK 422K
115.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$295 MMK 617.6K
178.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Mandalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$200 MMK 419.8K
250.84%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mandalay: October 27, 2025

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