😐A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $338 in Moga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $544 in Moga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $751 in Moga, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 151% more than Moga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Moga are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Moga75% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96฿63.6
$2.32₹219
-15.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39฿598
$9.43₹892
95.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87฿256
$4.16₹393
89.18%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.4
$1.78₹168
9.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.57
$0.40₹38.23
112.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.52
$0.15₹14.15
113.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14฿69.6
$1.78₹169
20.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68฿120
$2.89₹273
27.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66฿53.9
$0.74₹69.9
124.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56฿50.7
$0.43₹40.53
262.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.63
$0.56₹52.7
112.50%
Eggs
$1.99฿64.7
$0.92₹87.2
116.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.24฿528
$4.72₹447
244.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17฿103
$1.69₹160
87.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿352
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.65฿86.2
$0.73₹69.0
263.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿39.67
$0.60₹57.2
103.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65฿53.7
$0.75₹70.8
120.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55฿50.3
$0.55₹51.7
181.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33฿43.17
$0.36₹34.23
269.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.43
$0.42₹39.61
188.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68฿22.04
$0.57₹53.9
19.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.38
$0.28₹26.15
103.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68฿152
$4.39₹415
6.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99฿552
$10.07₹953
68.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿59.3
$1.77₹168
2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18฿103
$2.34₹221
35.90%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$2.89₹274
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.46
$0.30₹28.73
203.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.74฿609
$8.70₹823
115.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.80
$0.83₹78.6
69.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.52
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14฿265
$2.01₹190
304.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.53
$1.15₹109
11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿709.3K
$12.8K₹1.2M
70.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K฿728.0K
$20.0K₹1.9M
12.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,291
$34.55₹3,269
103.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.05฿457
$3.55₹336
295.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.65฿574
$7.61₹720
131.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.29฿1,342
$15.94₹1,508
159.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.76฿220
$7.16₹677
-5.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.96฿194
$5.61₹531
6.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303฿9,846
$35.38₹3,347
756.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿486.2K
$825₹78.0K
1713.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,778
$21.96₹2,077
149.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.29฿854
$29.11₹2,754
-9.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,788
$46.30₹4,380
85.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7฿2,265
$43.28₹4,094
61.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿13.9K
$64.0₹6,058
568.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,769
$32.19₹3,045
642.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.4K
$142₹13.4K
471.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510฿16.6K
$95.5₹9,030
433.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,025฿65.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,502฿48.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Moga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$623฿20.2K
$208₹19.7K
198.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
8.25
-39.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026
Last update for Moga: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $64.0 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 199% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Moga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 151% 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 vs Moga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $507 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 Moga?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Chiang Mai and $35.38 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 Moga?
Groceries cost about 157% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or Moga?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $338 in Moga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Moga?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Moga costs $338 versus $848 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 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