Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Maun

For one person, living is cheaper in Maun: $2.98 a month against $935 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 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

$935

/mo nomad

Maun

🇧🇼 Botswana

$2.98

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Maun

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 Maun actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2.98 in Maun, rent included.

Chiang Mai $935
Maun $2.98

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5.08 in Maun, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,467
Maun $5.08

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7.17 in Maun, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,999
Maun $7.17

Chiang Mai costs about 31292% more than Maun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chiang Mai and Maun are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Maun 100% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ฿72.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 ฿628

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ฿189

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿56.1

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

$0.65 ฿21.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿10.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 ฿78.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ฿68.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.96

Eggs

$2.37 ฿79.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.52 ฿557

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.67 ฿90.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 ฿304

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.9

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 ฿35.13

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ฿56.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 ฿25.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.35

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$17.93 ฿605

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 ฿54.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿95.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿31.53

$0.60 P 8.11

55.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 ฿1,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.70

$0.57 P 7.66

107.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.17 ฿5.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ฿61.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.69

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

$21.0K ฿708.9K

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

$26.5K ฿894.6K

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

$62.6 ฿2,111

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

$11.60 ฿392

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.30 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.88 ฿1,278

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.70 ฿125

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 ฿220

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

$727 ฿24.5K

$294 P 3,960

147.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K ฿559.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 ฿1,807

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.80 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.4 ฿3,050

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.0 ฿2,428

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$481 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 ฿10.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 ฿35.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$659 ฿22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,418 ฿81.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,609 ฿54.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿20.1K

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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Maun: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$310 33.1%

Maun

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$237 25.3%

Maun

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.6%

Maun

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Maun

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$77 8.2%

Maun

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$59 6.3%

Maun

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.4%

Maun

–

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇧🇼 Maun

🕒 Local time

21:41 9:41 PM

16:41 4:41 PM

5 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

55,784

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Botswana Pula BWP P

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 BWP = 7.43 USD

100 BWP = 6.64 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BWP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Botswana Pula exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 13.45 BWP (100 BWP = 7.43 USD). 1 EUR = 15.06 BWP (100 BWP = 6.64 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Maun 9,290 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Maun

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 Maun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 31292% more than Maun, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $4.47 in Maun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $935 in Chiang Mai and $2.98 in Maun. That makes Maun about 100% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $294 in Maun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2.98 in Maun to $935 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.