😐A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Martil, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,068 in Martil, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,450 in Martil, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Martil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Martil are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai31% lower, Martil50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿68.5
$3.05MAD 28.52
-31.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64฿646
$27.26MAD 255
-27.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65฿186
$7.55MAD 70.6
-25.17%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿59.3
$1.90MAD 17.80
-4.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71฿23.44
$0.65MAD 6.04
9.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.38
$0.38MAD 3.59
-15.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24฿73.5
$2.67MAD 24.95
-16.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿119
$3.21MAD 30.07
13.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96฿64.4
$0.92MAD 8.57
113.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.38
$0.26MAD 2.42
476.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34฿43.92
$1.88MAD 17.63
-28.72%
Eggs
$2.26฿74.4
$1.99MAD 18.59
13.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26฿534
$5.93MAD 55.5
174.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.95฿97.1
$6.71MAD 62.8
-56.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.94฿327
$12.93MAD 121
-23.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57฿84.5
$1.70MAD 15.95
51.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06฿34.72
$1.41MAD 13.19
-24.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$0.91MAD 8.53
76.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.96
$0.88MAD 8.23
72.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27฿41.76
$0.71MAD 6.66
78.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿35.05
$0.81MAD 7.61
32.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.67
$0.38MAD 3.58
89.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.72
$0.62MAD 5.77
-17.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿138
$3.84MAD 35.91
9.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.87฿587
$8.01MAD 74.9
123.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿55.7
$2.21MAD 20.66
-23.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿93.2
$2.60MAD 24.30
9.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93฿30.42
$0.54MAD 5.03
72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9฿1,770
$17.95MAD 168
200.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23฿40.58
$0.73MAD 6.84
68.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿18.96
$0.91MAD 8.48
-36.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.42฿79.7
$3.56MAD 33.32
-32.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41฿46.42
$1.50MAD 14.03
-6.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K฿704.9K
$35.6KMAD 332.7K
-39.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿898.5K
$31.8KMAD 297.2K
-13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,093
$36.30MAD 340
75.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.85฿423
$10.42MAD 97.5
23.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.22฿665
$34.44MAD 322
-41.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.74฿1,274
$27.02MAD 253
43.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97฿130
$21.78MAD 204
-81.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74฿221
$3.84MAD 35.88
75.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$778฿25.6K
$49.31MAD 461
1477.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿480.2K
$6,060MAD 56.7K
141.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3฿1,785
$18.21MAD 170
198.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45฿836
$44.85MAD 420
-43.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.3฿3,101
$56.9MAD 532
65.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4฿2,414
$68.9MAD 645
6.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.1K
$278MAD 2,603
75.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289฿9,510
$178MAD 1,666
62.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894฿29.4K
$491MAD 4,592
82.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$517฿17.0K
$278MAD 2,604
85.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,955฿64.3K
$1,249MAD 11.7K
56.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477฿48.5K
$857MAD 8,020
72.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Martil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.52
23.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Last update for Martil: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $278 in Martil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Martil. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $187 in Martil – so Martil 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 Martil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Martil?
Chiang Mai costs about 38% more than Martil, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Martil?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,030 in Martil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Martil?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Martil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Martil?
Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $49.31 in Martil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Martil?
Groceries cost about 28% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Martil?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Martil, where all-in costs run around $687, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Martil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Martil?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Martil costs $687 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Martil?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Martil?
If budget matters most, go with Martil. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared