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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Mandeville, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,284 in Mandeville, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,803 in Mandeville, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Mandeville, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mandeville are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mandeville 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$6.14 JMD 963

-68.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$63.5 JMD 9,952

-70.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$8.94 JMD 1,401

-12.53%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.14 JMD 336

-8.88%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.98 JMD 153

-13.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.76 JMD 120

-53.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.25 JMD 352

-5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.77 JMD 435

34.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.23 JMD 663

-59.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.08 JMD 326

-21.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.57 JMD 245

-27.39%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.53 JMD 554

-45.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.21 JMD 1,757

44.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.32 JMD 991

-50.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.60 JMD 1,190

43.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$6.08 JMD 952

-54.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.99 JMD 469

-59.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$4.15 JMD 650

-60.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.00 JMD 470

-47.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$2.02 JMD 316

-30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.98 JMD 310

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.97 JMD 465

-77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.49 JMD 234

-64.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$8.34 JMD 1,306

-43.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.61 JMD 1,819

60.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.91 JMD 456

-38.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.22 JMD 505

0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.09 JMD 170

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$3.09 JMD 484

-58.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.12 JMD 959

28.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.28 JMD 200

-0.78%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$43.0K JMD 6.7M

-50.57%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$33.5K JMD 5.2M

-33.70%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$93.0 JMD 14.6K

-25.76%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$21.59 JMD 3,383

-34.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$50.3 JMD 7,874

-64.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$10.81 JMD 1,694

-35.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$12.90 JMD 2,022

-54.11%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$228 JMD 35.6K

31.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,457 JMD 384.9K

508.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$26.55 JMD 4,160

106.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$25.78 JMD 4,039

3.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$70.6 JMD 11.1K

20.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$77.6 JMD 12.2K

-9.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$470 JMD 73.6K

-8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,799 JMD 281.9K

9.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$511 JMD 80.0K

20.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mandeville: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $470 in Mandeville. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% 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 $64.0 in Mandeville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $335 – 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 Mandeville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 13% more than Mandeville, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,147 in Mandeville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandeville, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $64.0 in Mandeville. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mandeville, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Chiang Mai at $866. In Mandeville it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandeville costs $765 versus $866 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 Mandeville. 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.