Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mata Utu

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $5,221 in Mata Utu, rent and utilities included – about $51,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Mata Utu

🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna

$5,221

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Mata Utu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Mata Utu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,221 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Mata Utu $5,221

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,618 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Mata Utu $6,618

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $8,015 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Mata Utu $8,015

Chiang Mai is about 82% cheaper than Mata Utu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 284% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$11.02 CFPF 1,176

-79.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$110 CFPF 11.8K

-82.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$7.83 CFPF 835

-78.67%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$5.56 CFPF 593

-88.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$3.29 CFPF 351

-90.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$5.65 CFPF 603

-35.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$11.06 CFPF 1,180

-93.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$4.59 CFPF 489

-89.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$17.00 CFPF 1,814

-75.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$16.57 CFPF 1,768

5.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.86 CFPF 199

-22.04%

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

$143 CFPF 15.3K

-56.65%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$114 CFPF 12.1K

-89.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$3,321 CFPF 354.3K

-99.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$225 CFPF 24.0K

-76.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$90.9 CFPF 9,696

-72.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$224 CFPF 23.9K

-59.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$276 CFPF 29.4K

-73.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$909 CFPF 97.0K

-46.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$915 CFPF 97.6K

-66.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$2,264 CFPF 241.6K

-55.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$2,266 CFPF 241.8K

-72.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$3,355 CFPF 358.0K

-82.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Mata Utu

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Mata Utu

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Mata Utu

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Mata Utu

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Mata Utu

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Mata Utu

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Mata Utu

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $909 in Mata Utu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Mata Utu are about 5.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $110 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $132 in Mata Utu – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇼🇫 Mata Utu

🕒 Local time

04:51 4:51 AM

09:51 9:51 AM

5 h ahead of Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

1,200 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

CFP Franc XPF Fr

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Mata Utu 9,950 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Mata Utu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mata Utu costs about 458% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $7,832 in Mata Utu. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $909 in Mata Utu.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $5,221 in Mata Utu. That makes Chiang Mai about 82% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 43% cheaper in Mata Utu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $5,221 in Mata Utu. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $5,221 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.