Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mariano Roque Alonso Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mariano Roque Alonso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Mariano Roque Alonso, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $976 in Mariano Roque Alonso, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Mariano Roque Alonso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Mariano Roque Alonso are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Mariano Roque Alonso 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.33 ₲26.4K

-55.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$22.38 ₲136.4K

-16.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.68 ₲22.4K

112.50%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.48 ₲9,015

31.76%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.65 ₲3,931

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.37 ₲2,280

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.42 ₲8,653

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$0.77 ₲4,669

384.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.81 ₲4,920

111.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.95 ₲5,818

71.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$0.83 ₲5,064

37.35%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.59 ₲9,685

21.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.92 ₲30.0K

229.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$3.26 ₲19.9K

-4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$5.47 ₲33.4K

99.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.55 ₲9,466

77.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.50 ₲3,048

142.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.65 ₲3,984

149.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.54 ₲9,378

3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.11 ₲6,785

26.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.51 ₲3,121

129.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.52 ₲3,186

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.36 ₲2,200

47.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.35 ₲8,228

247.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$6.20 ₲37.8K

200.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.70 ₲4,241

157.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$0.85 ₲5,178

280.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.41 ₲2,502

119.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$38.53 ₲234.8K

-50.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.66 ₲4,004

113.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.74 ₲4,500

74.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.92 ₲54.3K

-12.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.82 ₲4,984

54.88%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$13.8K ₲84.1M

54.23%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$22.3K ₲135.8M

-0.29%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$38.44 ₲234.3K

79.68%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$13.89 ₲84.6K

1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$14.80 ₲90.2K

21.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$21.14 ₲128.8K

94.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.29 ₲26.1K

38.00%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$165 ₲1.0M

81.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$913 ₲5.6M

1537.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$44.06 ₲268.5K

24.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$30.96 ₲188.7K

-13.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$63.5 ₲386.7K

33.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$50.1 ₲305.1K

41.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$189 ₲1.2M

126.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$126 ₲769.3K

88.02%

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

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$822 ₲5.0M

-24.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

-50.84%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $189 in Mariano Roque Alonso. 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 33% higher in Mariano Roque Alonso, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $124 in Mariano Roque Alonso – so Mariano Roque Alonso 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 Mariano Roque Alonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 56% more than Mariano Roque Alonso, 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 $832 in Mariano Roque Alonso. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mariano Roque Alonso, 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 $165 in Mariano Roque Alonso. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 98% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mariano Roque Alonso costs $555 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 Mariano Roque Alonso. 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.