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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $970 in Manisa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,462 in Manisa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,953 in Manisa, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 11% cheaper than Manisa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Manisa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Manisa 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$7.41 ₺341

-73.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$19.38 ₺891

-3.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$7.74 ₺356

1.03%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$3.11 ₺143

-37.30%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$1.80 ₺82.6

-52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.49 ₺22.72

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$3.26 ₺150

-34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.87 ₺178

-3.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.87 ₺40.18

96.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.62 ₺28.27

162.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$1.73 ₺79.4

-34.10%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.84 ₺84.7

4.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$8.73 ₺401

85.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.10 ₺280

-48.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$19.91 ₺915

-45.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.30 ₺59.7

111.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.92 ₺88.4

-36.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.96 ₺44.33

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.12 ₺51.5

41.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.74 ₺34.09

89.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.61 ₺27.83

91.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.73 ₺33.38

-9.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.22 ₺10.27

140.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.18 ₺100

115.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$11.37 ₺522

64.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.06 ₺94.7

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.53 ₺116

27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.63 ₺28.74

42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.55 ₺1,404

-37.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.09 ₺50.3

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.62 ₺28.35

108.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$7.65 ₺352

2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.25 ₺57.3

1.60%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$49.3K ₺2.3M

-56.80%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$44.9K ₺2.1M

-50.57%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$47.60 ₺2,188

45.11%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$5.65 ₺260

149.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$9.31 ₺428

93.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$43.19 ₺1,985

-4.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.38 ₺201

35.16%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$615 ₺28.3K

-51.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$9,032 ₺415.1K

65.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$38.30 ₺1,760

42.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$38.85 ₺1,785

-31.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$87.1 ₺4,001

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$43.26 ₺1,988

63.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$478 ₺22.0K

-10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$349 ₺16.0K

-31.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$709 ₺32.6K

13.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$574 ₺26.4K

-10.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,927 ₺88.6K

2.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,320 ₺60.7K

11.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$1,110 ₺51.0K

-44.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

43.79

-88.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manisa: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $478 in Manisa. 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 80% higher in Manisa, 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 $19.00 in Manisa. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $220 in Manisa – so Manisa 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 Manisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manisa costs about 12% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,455 in Manisa. 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 $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $615 in Manisa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Manisa – 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 $866, than in Manisa at $970. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manisa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $970 in Manisa. 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, Manisa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.