Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Masjed Soleyman Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Masjed Soleyman

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $512 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $828 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,144 in Masjed Soleyman, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Masjed Soleyman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Masjed Soleyman are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Masjed Soleyman 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$3.14 $3.14

-33.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$17.63 $17.63

11.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.04 $4.04

40.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 $0.80

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 $1.22

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.12 $1.12

61.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.46 $0.46

67.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.88 $0.88

-60.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.66 $0.66

210.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.49 $0.49

208.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.20 $2.20

-36.36%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.38 $1.38

63.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$3.29 $3.29

392.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$3.29 $3.29

-11.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.53 $8.53

10.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$0.96 $0.96

179.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.46 $1.46

-25.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$0.71 $0.71

128.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.58 $0.58

151.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.52 $0.52

146.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.53 $0.53

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.50 $0.50

44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.26 $0.26

103.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.54 $0.54

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.33 $2.33

81.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.20 $0.20

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$6.42 $6.42

737.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.40 $0.40

192.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.31 $0.31

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$1.97 $1.97

21.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.08 $0.08

1712.50%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$46.6K $46.6K

-54.92%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$49.5K $49.5K

-46.57%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$11.45 $11.45

455.90%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$1.62 $1.62

695.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$3.83 $3.83

435.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$20.20 $20.20

93.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$11.74 $11.74

-66.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$1.76 $1.76

273.86%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$95.6 $95.6

720.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$1,576 $1,576

831.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$20.00 $20.00

175.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$27.99 $27.99

-11.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$100 $100

-6.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$79.4 $79.4

-6.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$263 $263

86.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$219 $219

31.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$764 $764

16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$331 $331

57.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,220 $1,220

61.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$600 $600

140.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

23.21

-76.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Masjed Soleyman: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $263 in Masjed Soleyman. 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 $18.00 in Masjed Soleyman. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $105 – making Masjed Soleyman 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 Masjed Soleyman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 82% more than Masjed Soleyman, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $767 in Masjed Soleyman. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Masjed Soleyman, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $95.6 in Masjed Soleyman. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 130% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Masjed Soleyman, where all-in costs run around $512, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Masjed Soleyman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Masjed Soleyman costs $512 versus $932 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 Masjed Soleyman. 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.