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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 19.4% more expensive than Meru without rent, and 81.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 5.2% more expensive than Meru without rent, and 60.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$5.37 KES 694
-62.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$38.81 KES 5,016
-51.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$6.98 KES 902
9.89%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.38 KES 307
-16.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.72 KES 92.5
13.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.5 KES 65.2
-34.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.26 KES 292
-6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.98 KES 385
25.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$0.86 KES 112
90.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$0.38 KES 48.62
313.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.1 KES 142
8.18%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.39 KES 179
42.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$11.72 KES 1,514
36.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$6.77 KES 874
-53.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$4.98 KES 643
124.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.12 KES 404
-11.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.75 KES 96.5
62.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$0.81 KES 104
111.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$0.75 KES 97.4
106.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.07 KES 138
25.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.03 KES 133
17.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.24 KES 31.17
200.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.45 KES 57.6
17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$3.13 KES 404
50.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$11.68 KES 1,510
57.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.23 KES 288
-19.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.72 KES 352
18.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.53 KES 197
-7.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.5 KES 194
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$2.92 KES 377
168.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.03 KES 133
21.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$21.9K KES 2.8M
-3.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$19.9K KES 2.6M
9.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$34.99 KES 4,522
101.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$16.73 KES 2,162
-17.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$40.14 KES 5,188
-56.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$6.33 KES 818
-8.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$204 KES 26.3K
51.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$8,145 KES 1.1M
80.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$18.26 KES 2,360
203.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$24.34 KES 3,146
8.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$66.3 KES 8,573
28.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$56.2 KES 7,266
27.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Meru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
14.84
-66.31%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Meru: October 28, 2025

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