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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,668 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,648 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,628 in Marsta, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 43% cheaper than Marsta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Marsta is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$13.43 SEK 130

-84.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$69.0 SEK 669

-71.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$10.60 SEK 103

-45.38%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$4.59 SEK 44.45

-60.13%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$2.06 SEK 19.94

-62.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.86 SEK 18.07

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$7.20 SEK 69.8

-67.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$7.36 SEK 71.4

-49.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.77 SEK 17.17

14.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.22 SEK 31.19

-50.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$5.44 SEK 52.8

-73.90%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.69 SEK 35.79

-40.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$13.95 SEK 135

14.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$9.55 SEK 92.6

-67.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$18.03 SEK 175

-45.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$3.07 SEK 29.78

-14.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.70 SEK 26.22

-59.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.05 SEK 19.84

-20.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$3.76 SEK 36.43

-59.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.49 SEK 14.48

-16.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$1.54 SEK 14.89

-26.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$2.10 SEK 20.34

-64.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.96 SEK 18.98

-74.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$7.14 SEK 69.3

-40.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$10.36 SEK 100

73.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.01 SEK 19.50

-15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.22 SEK 21.53

30.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$3.48 SEK 33.78

-72.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$78.8 SEK 764

-29.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$13.78 SEK 134

-91.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$2.13 SEK 20.66

-75.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$59.3 SEK 575

-95.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.80 SEK 17.45

-20.00%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.5K SEK 334.4K

-38.56%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$34.6K SEK 335.5K

-21.11%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$62.3 SEK 604

4.27%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$26.80 SEK 260

-50.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$41.31 SEK 401

-49.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$39.29 SEK 381

2.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$23.41 SEK 227

-83.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$16.88 SEK 164

-60.25%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$226 SEK 2,188

248.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$5,212 SEK 50.5K

190.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$51.3 SEK 497

9.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$31.35 SEK 304

-20.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$92.0 SEK 891

0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$104 SEK 1,008

-27.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$797 SEK 7,722

-39.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$574 SEK 5,565

-49.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,420 SEK 13.8K

-35.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$1,117 SEK 10.8K

-52.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$4,347 SEK 42.1K

-54.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$2,578 SEK 25.0K

-43.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$4,840 SEK 46.9K

-87.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.2

74.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Marsta: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $797 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 700% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $363 – 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 75% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,502 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $226 in Marsta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $950, than in Marsta at $1,668. 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 $950 versus $1,668 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.