Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mayari Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Mayari

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,541 in Mayari, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,934 in Mayari, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,327 in Mayari, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 44% cheaper than Mayari, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Mayari is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.85 CUP 140

-66.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$19.67 CUP 472

-4.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.59 CUP 158

17.60%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.29 CUP 30.92

48.84%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.17 CUP 52.2

-63.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.22 CUP 29.25

-70.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.46 CUP 59.0

-10.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.99 CUP 71.7

22.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.98 CUP 71.6

-44.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.79 CUP 18.85

106.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.44 CUP 58.5

-51.23%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.04 CUP 72.9

-34.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.88 CUP 141

171.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$5.35 CUP 128

-43.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.85 CUP 284

-8.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$5.10 CUP 123

-45.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.23 CUP 29.40

-4.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.37 CUP 32.84

19.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.43 CUP 34.39

6.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.87 CUP 44.94

-26.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.83 CUP 68.0

-57.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.01 CUP 24.31

-30.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.07 CUP 25.66

-47.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.58 CUP 86.0

27.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.12 CUP 243

63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.71 CUP 40.99

7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.90 CUP 45.52

68.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.23 CUP 5.40

282.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$20.07 CUP 482

-6.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.30 CUP 55.3

-40.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.39 CUP 9.34

243.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$19.91 CUP 478

-60.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.27 CUP 30.40

-3.15%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$68.6K CUP 1.6M

-68.50%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$80.7K CUP 1.9M

-72.05%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$34.59 CUP 830

103.93%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$39.78 CUP 955

-65.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$248 CUP 5,959

-92.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$39.91 CUP 958

3.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$15.17 CUP 364

-54.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$1.02 CUP 24.54

465.69%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$116 CUP 2,788

164.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$17.8K CUP 428.2K

-18.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$55.4 CUP 1,330

0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$39.96 CUP 959

-34.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$44.34 CUP 1,064

93.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$49.19 CUP 1,181

46.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$215 CUP 5,151

100.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$682 CUP 16.4K

-65.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$382 CUP 9,165

114.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$681 CUP 16.3K

-24.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$390 CUP 9,365

408.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$357 CUP 8,556

316.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$21.99 CUP 528

2714.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mayari: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $215 in Mayari. 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 2714% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $20.00 in Mayari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $246 – 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 Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mayari costs about 77% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,312 in Mayari. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $116 in Mayari. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Mayari, 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 $869, than in Mayari at $1,541. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mayari it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,541 in Mayari. 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, Mayari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.