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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,119 in Medias, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,699 in Medias, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,280 in Medias, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Medias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Medias are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Medias 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$12.44 RON 54.3

-84.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$50.9 RON 222

-63.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.96 RON 34.71

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.57 RON 15.55

-46.50%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.98 RON 8.62

-57.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$2.09 RON 9.11

-83.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.19 RON 13.90

-30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.47 RON 15.11

9.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.35 RON 5.87

21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.30 RON 5.65

24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.83 RON 7.96

-35.52%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$3.35 RON 14.60

-40.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.54 RON 37.23

86.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.07 RON 30.81

-57.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$11.89 RON 51.8

-9.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.19 RON 5.20

119.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.65 RON 7.21

-26.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.55 RON 6.78

9.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.39 RON 10.42

-33.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.00 RON 4.35

32.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.04 RON 4.52

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.89 RON 3.86

-24.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.82 RON 3.60

-31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$5.76 RON 25.13

-21.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.07 RON 30.82

157.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.11 RON 4.82

64.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.70 RON 7.42

90.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.67 RON 2.93

32.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$19.64 RON 85.6

-1.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.76 RON 3.30

77.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.81 RON 3.51

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$7.05 RON 30.74

17.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.49 RON 6.49

-14.77%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$28.5K RON 124.4K

-25.86%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$27.5K RON 119.9K

-18.23%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$166 RON 726

-57.86%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$7.98 RON 34.78

72.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$8.95 RON 39.03

96.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$41.75 RON 182

-0.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$19.21 RON 83.7

-65.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$7.04 RON 30.69

-17.90%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$440 RON 1,921

-30.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,542 RON 28.5K

126.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$67.6 RON 295

-19.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$42.69 RON 186

-38.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$96.4 RON 420

-12.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$99.4 RON 433

-30.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$383 RON 1,670

10.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$292 RON 1,275

-18.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$585 RON 2,550

41.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$446 RON 1,943

15.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,733 RON 7,554

18.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,318 RON 5,746

15.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

-35.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medias: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $383 in Medias. 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in Medias. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Medias – so Medias wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Medias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medias costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,678 in Medias. 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $440 in Medias. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Medias – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Medias at $1,119. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medias it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,119 in Medias. 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, Medias makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.