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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 31.5% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 36.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 20.9% more expensive than Medan without rent, and 38.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$1.86 Rpย 31.4K
5.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$10.66 Rpย 180.4K
75.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$3.14 Rpย 53.2K
152.23%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.6
$1.72 Rpย 29.1K
17.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.44
$0.40 Rpย 6,734
110.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.06
$0.25 Rpย 4,196
40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$1.51 Rpย 25.6K
47.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$5.25 Rpย 88.8K
-31.62%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.3
$1.18 Rpย 20.0K
41.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$1.13 Rpย 19.1K
43.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.82
$0.82 Rpย 13.9K
46.34%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$1.58 Rpย 26.7K
22.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$9.70 Rpย 164.1K
64.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$3.84 Rpย 65.0K
-17.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ343
$7.07 Rpย 119.7K
54.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$2.29 Rpย 38.7K
16.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.98
$1.00 Rpย 16.9K
18.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$1.52 Rpย 25.8K
7.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.82
$0.89 Rpย 15.1K
78.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.63
$0.69 Rpย 11.8K
91.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.48
$1.24 Rpย 21.0K
-4.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.19
$0.46 Rpย 7,738
54.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.74
$0.50 Rpย 8,507
12.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$2.41 Rpย 40.8K
92.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$16.84 Rpย 284.9K
12.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.6
$1.35 Rpย 22.8K
31.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$3.09 Rpย 52.2K
3.56%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.31
$0.29 Rpย 4,983
210.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
$10.09 Rpย 170.8K
90.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.77
$0.56 Rpย 9,519
142.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.35
$0.20 Rpย 3,381
575.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$6.32 Rpย 106.9K
28.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.42
$0.88 Rpย 14.8K
38.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.6K
$27.6K Rpย 466.7M
-22.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.6K
$34.4K Rpย 582.3M
-36.81%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$80.9 Rpย 1.4M
-13.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$3.64 Rpย 61.6K
282.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$33.68 Rpย 569.7K
-46.56%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,313
$23.21 Rpย 392.7K
80.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
$6.99 Rpย 118.2K
-2.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$3.61 Rpย 61.1K
58.45%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,690
$127 Rpย 2.1M
143.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.6K
$10.6K Rpย 179.1M
39.95%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,755
$65.3 Rpย 1.1M
-14.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ839
$43.33 Rpย 733.0K
-38.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,657
$119 Rpย 2.0M
-28.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,226
$63.9 Rpย 1.1M
10.88%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$192 Rpย 3.2M
124.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,437
$98.7 Rpย 1.7M
139.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$545 Rpย 9.2M
48.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$233 Rpย 3.9M
114.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$1,219 Rpย 20.6M
80.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$601 Rpย 10.2M
166.30%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Medan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
$225 Rpย 3.8M
203.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9.25
-45.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Medan: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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