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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $735 in Monastir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,178 in Monastir, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,621 in Monastir, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Monastir, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Monastir are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Monastir 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$4.70 TND 13.66

-55.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$22.48 TND 65.4

-12.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.09 TND 17.73

-6.90%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.15 TND 3.35

57.39%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.81 TND 2.36

-4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.39 TND 1.13

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.75 TND 5.09

26.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.76 TND 5.11

115.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.52 TND 1.50

294.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.17 TND 0.49

788.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.75 TND 5.08

-20.00%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.72 TND 5.00

31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$13.75 TND 40.00

17.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.20 TND 18.04

-53.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$14.88 TND 43.28

-36.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.92 TND 5.58

39.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$4.69 TND 13.64

-76.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.15 TND 3.35

40.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.82 TND 2.40

78.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.90 TND 2.63

42.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.77 TND 2.23

37.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.47 TND 1.36

53.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.34 TND 0.98

55.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.67 TND 10.69

15.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$5.04 TND 14.65

262.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.20 TND 3.49

35.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.35 TND 3.93

114.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.35 TND 1.02

151.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$11.66 TND 33.93

361.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.32 TND 0.94

265.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.33 TND 0.97

75.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$1.81 TND 5.27

32.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.84 TND 2.44

72.62%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$39.7K TND 115.6K

-47.10%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$37.1K TND 108.0K

-28.79%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$69.0 TND 201

-7.70%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.87 TND 31.61

18.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$20.23 TND 58.8

1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$24.20 TND 70.4

61.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$6.74 TND 19.60

-41.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.19 TND 18.02

6.30%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$99.0 TND 288

692.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$3,058 TND 8,897

379.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$49.46 TND 144

11.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$66.1 TND 192

-62.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$114 TND 331

-17.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$110 TND 321

-32.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$205 TND 597

138.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$122 TND 355

136.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$374 TND 1,087

138.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$240 TND 699

116.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,237 TND 3,600

59.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$623 TND 1,812

131.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$356 TND 1,037

68.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-49.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Monastir: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $205 in Monastir. 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 69% 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 $22.00 in Monastir. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Monastir – so Monastir 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 Monastir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Monastir, 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 $1,103 in Monastir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monastir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $99.0 in Monastir. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 Monastir, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Monastir 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. Monastir costs $735 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 Monastir. 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.