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 $1,790 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,746 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,703 in Marsta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 52% cheaper than Marsta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Marsta is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$13.37 SEK 129

-84.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$69.6 SEK 671

-73.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$10.39 SEK 100

-24.35%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$4.46 SEK 43.02

-54.48%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$2.10 SEK 20.22

-61.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.87 SEK 18.07

-81.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$7.29 SEK 70.2

-70.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$7.53 SEK 72.6

-51.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$1.80 SEK 17.31

-3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$3.07 SEK 29.63

-48.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$4.02 SEK 38.79

-70.15%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.69 SEK 35.58

-46.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$13.91 SEK 134

16.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$9.56 SEK 92.2

-67.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$15.92 SEK 154

-32.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$3.61 SEK 34.76

-23.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$2.70 SEK 26.05

-56.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$3.18 SEK 30.64

-46.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$3.87 SEK 37.36

-58.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.51 SEK 14.53

-7.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.60 SEK 15.43

-27.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$2.75 SEK 26.52

-76.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.74 SEK 16.81

-70.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$7.48 SEK 72.1

-37.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$10.31 SEK 99.4

72.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.70 SEK 16.38

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$1.98 SEK 19.05

68.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$4.26 SEK 41.10

-78.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$102 SEK 985

-81.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$12.06 SEK 116

-88.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$1.64 SEK 15.80

-18.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$58.9 SEK 568

-86.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.91 SEK 18.37

-35.60%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$33.0K SEK 318.4K

-35.10%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$34.4K SEK 332.0K

-36.63%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$88.4 SEK 852

-19.27%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$27.99 SEK 270

-49.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$35.99 SEK 347

-50.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$28.76 SEK 277

41.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$25.60 SEK 247

-73.13%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$15.86 SEK 153

-63.93%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$143 SEK 1,383

114.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$726 SEK 7,000

1921.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$80.0 SEK 772

-30.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$43.89 SEK 423

-40.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$98.4 SEK 949

-13.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$107 SEK 1,032

-33.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$843 SEK 8,131

-49.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$653 SEK 6,294

-62.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$1,398 SEK 13.5K

-42.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$1,088 SEK 10.5K

-53.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$4,464 SEK 43.0K

-57.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$3,186 SEK 30.7K

-54.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$4,806 SEK 46.3K

-87.62%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Marsta: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $843 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 708% 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 $70.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $356 – 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 110% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,685 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $143 in Marsta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% 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 $1,790. 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 $1,790 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.