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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Mandeville, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,279 in Mandeville, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,794 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 36% lower, Mandeville 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$6.17 JMD 974

-68.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$63.0 JMD 9,933

-70.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$8.63 JMD 1,362

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.16 JMD 341

-6.48%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.99 JMD 156

-14.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.72 JMD 113

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$2.21 JMD 348

-3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.79 JMD 441

28.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$4.30 JMD 678

-61.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$2.15 JMD 339

-26.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.61 JMD 255

-26.09%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$3.47 JMD 547

-44.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.22 JMD 1,771

44.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$6.46 JMD 1,020

-53.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.83 JMD 1,235

39.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$6.00 JMD 947

-54.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$3.10 JMD 490

-62.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$4.14 JMD 654

-59.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.90 JMD 458

-44.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$2.08 JMD 329

-33.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$2.03 JMD 320

-40.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.99 JMD 472

-77.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.49 JMD 234

-62.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$8.26 JMD 1,303

-43.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$11.18 JMD 1,765

57.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.76 JMD 436

-32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$3.09 JMD 488

6.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.12 JMD 177

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$3.21 JMD 506

-58.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.10 JMD 963

34.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.23 JMD 195

-0.81%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$42.6K JMD 6.7M

-49.89%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-33.27%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$92.9 JMD 14.7K

-23.89%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$22.15 JMD 3,495

-36.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$50.3 JMD 7,943

-65.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$10.77 JMD 1,700

-36.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$13.21 JMD 2,085

-55.19%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$226 JMD 35.7K

36.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,532 JMD 399.5K

487.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$26.32 JMD 4,153

111.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$26.02 JMD 4,105

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

15.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$76.4 JMD 12.1K

-7.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$463 JMD 73.0K

-6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,768 JMD 279.0K

8.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$497 JMD 78.4K

16.54%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mandeville: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $463 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 17% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $63.0 in Mandeville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $336 – 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 $1,292 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $63.0 in Mandeville. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% 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 $861. 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 $861 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.