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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,802 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,754 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,706 in Marsta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Marsta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Marsta is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$13.22 SEK 123

-85.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$68.4 SEK 636

-72.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$10.60 SEK 98.6

-25.28%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$4.45 SEK 41.37

-57.08%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$2.17 SEK 20.17

-61.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$1.87 SEK 17.44

-81.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$7.41 SEK 68.9

-70.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$7.34 SEK 68.2

-48.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.78 SEK 16.56

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.22 SEK 29.97

-49.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$3.98 SEK 36.99

-70.35%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.82 SEK 35.55

-47.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$14.00 SEK 130

13.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$9.60 SEK 89.3

-68.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$15.73 SEK 146

-31.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.69 SEK 34.32

-29.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.56 SEK 23.82

-52.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$3.14 SEK 29.21

-45.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$3.99 SEK 37.12

-60.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.52 SEK 14.11

-13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.62 SEK 15.08

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.70 SEK 25.12

-75.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.75 SEK 16.32

-68.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.17 SEK 66.7

-36.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.63 SEK 98.9

71.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.79 SEK 16.65

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.88 SEK 17.45

71.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$4.13 SEK 38.40

-78.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$101 SEK 936

-80.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$12.25 SEK 114

-88.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.63 SEK 15.17

-17.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$60.0 SEK 558

-86.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.00 SEK 18.62

-36.50%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$33.0K SEK 306.5K

-35.81%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$34.3K SEK 318.9K

-34.42%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$88.1 SEK 819

-20.36%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$28.80 SEK 268

-52.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$36.96 SEK 344

-52.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$29.08 SEK 270

42.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$24.91 SEK 232

-73.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$15.84 SEK 147

-63.51%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$144 SEK 1,338

112.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$746 SEK 6,936

1887.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$77.7 SEK 723

-30.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$42.96 SEK 399

-39.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$101 SEK 938

-16.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$107 SEK 999

-35.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$855 SEK 7,952

-50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$645 SEK 5,997

-63.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,379 SEK 12.8K

-40.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,086 SEK 10.1K

-52.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$3,869 SEK 36.0K

-47.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$2,651 SEK 24.7K

-42.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$5,003 SEK 46.5K

-87.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

10.38%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Marsta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $855 in Marsta. 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 688% higher in Marsta, 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 $68.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $358 – 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 Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Marsta costs about 111% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,703 in Marsta. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $144 in Marsta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Marsta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Marsta at $1,802. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,802 in Marsta. 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, Marsta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.