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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $544 in Molo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $882 in Molo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,220 in Molo, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 71% more than Molo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Molo are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Molo 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.55 KES 589

-54.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$35.29 KES 4,566

-44.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.03 KES 781

-5.97%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.75 KES 356

-34.18%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.58 KES 75.6

32.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.64 KES 82.5

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.27 KES 293

-2.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.65 KES 343

43.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.94 KES 122

118.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.58 KES 74.4

160.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.86 KES 241

-24.73%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.70 KES 220

32.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$10.67 KES 1,380

51.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.33 KES 819

-54.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$6.11 KES 791

54.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.31 KES 428

-19.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.07 KES 138

1.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.06 KES 267

-21.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.13 KES 146

29.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.14 KES 148

12.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.09 KES 141

-2.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.67 KES 87.3

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.74 KES 95.8

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.44 KES 445

22.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$11.61 KES 1,503

57.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.32 KES 300

-29.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.74 KES 354

5.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.52 KES 197

-23.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.51 KES 195

-61.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$2.92 KES 378

-18.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.57 KES 204

-7.64%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$21.7K KES 2.8M

-3.05%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$20.5K KES 2.7M

28.97%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$62.5 KES 8,082

1.91%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$15.75 KES 2,038

-18.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$35.67 KES 4,616

-42.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.90 KES 1,022

-16.71%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$246 KES 31.8K

218.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$11.4K KES 1.5M

28.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$27.81 KES 3,599

98.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$28.43 KES 3,679

-12.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$68.9 KES 8,909

36.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$58.0 KES 7,498

27.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$386 KES 49.9K

56.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.71

-62.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Molo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 56% 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 $35.00 in Molo. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $206 in Molo – so Molo 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 Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 71% more than Molo, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $816 in Molo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $35.00 in Molo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Molo, where all-in costs run around $544, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Molo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Molo costs $544 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Molo. 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.