😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $329 in Moga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $526 in Moga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $723 in Moga, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 184% more than Moga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Moga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Moga76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$2.79₹268
-25.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$10.59₹1,016
85.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$3.56₹341
59.27%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$2.13₹204
-15.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$0.38₹36.67
102.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.12₹11.54
191.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$1.86₹178
18.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$3.15₹302
20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$0.67₹64.0
205.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$0.41₹38.98
268.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$0.59₹56.4
137.29%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$0.89₹85.5
153.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$4.27₹410
279.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$3.11₹299
-6.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$0.61₹58.9
339.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$0.54₹52.3
101.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$0.63₹60.6
157.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$0.45₹42.96
224.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$0.30₹29.15
326.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$0.36₹34.95
194.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.49₹47.05
46.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.29₹28.11
82.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$4.73₹453
-10.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$9.85₹945
85.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.48₹142
10.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$2.03₹195
42.86%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.95₹475
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$0.25₹23.88
252.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$7.41₹711
625.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$1.06₹102
10.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.30₹28.35
93.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$1.54₹148
55.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$0.99₹95.1
46.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$12.8K₹1.2M
64.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$18.0K₹1.7M
47.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$31.74₹3,045
100.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$3.11₹298
314.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$7.45₹715
175.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$13.96₹1,340
179.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$6.35₹609
-38.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$3.76₹361
75.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$31.11₹2,985
2419.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$764₹73.3K
1821.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$25.03₹2,401
120.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$28.06₹2,692
-11.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$38.78₹3,721
142.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$38.70₹3,713
91.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$56.4₹5,413
768.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$29.20₹2,802
886.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$125₹12.0K
610.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$85.6₹8,213
508.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$1,004₹96.3K
96.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$454₹43.5K
218.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$208₹20.0K
188.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
8.88
-37.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Moga: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $56.4 in Moga. 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 189% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $11.00 in Moga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $94.0 – making Moga 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 Moga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Moga?
Chiang Mai costs about 184% more than Moga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Moga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $493 in Moga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Moga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Moga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Moga?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $31.11 in Moga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Moga?
Groceries cost about 155% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Moga?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Moga, where all-in costs run around $329, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Moga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Moga?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Moga costs $329 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Moga?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Moga?
If budget matters most, go with Moga. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared