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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,461 in Moroni, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,156 in Moroni, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,851 in Moroni, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 36% cheaper than Moroni, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Chiang Mai sits 32% below the global median, while Moroni is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$6.41 KMF 2,747

-67.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$19.69 KMF 8,432

-0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.23 KMF 3,525

-31.11%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.77 KMF 760

2.26%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$1.05 KMF 451

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.65 KMF 276

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$1.08 KMF 463

104.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.94 KMF 832

95.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$4.47 KMF 1,916

-54.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.56 KMF 240

169.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.77 KMF 759

-20.90%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$5.06 KMF 2,166

-55.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$7.74 KMF 3,314

109.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$12.68 KMF 5,431

-25.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$5.23 KMF 2,242

-48.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$4.33 KMF 1,854

-66.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$4.77 KMF 2,042

-73.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$3.17 KMF 1,356

-66.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$2.33 KMF 1,000

-69.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$1.32 KMF 565

-59.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$17.50 KMF 7,495

4.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$0.93 KMF 399

75.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$6.74 KMF 2,887

-56.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.63 KMF 271

39.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$32.87 KMF 14.1K

63.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.67 KMF 286

74.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$1.00 KMF 427

-42.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$11.86 KMF 5,080

-79.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$3.09 KMF 1,324

-53.07%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$19.5K KMF 8.3M

7.78%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$17.9K KMF 7.7M

47.77%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$117 KMF 50.3K

-45.78%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$35.34 KMF 15.1K

-63.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$74.8 KMF 32.0K

-72.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$14.07 KMF 6,028

-72.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.59 KMF 2,822

-0.15%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$407 KMF 174.2K

92.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$14.4K KMF 6.2M

2.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$63.6 KMF 27.2K

-13.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$61.4 KMF 26.3K

-59.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$115 KMF 49.4K

-18.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$86.5 KMF 37.0K

-14.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$737 KMF 315.6K

-33.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$619 KMF 265.0K

-53.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$1,442 KMF 617.6K

-38.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,175 KMF 503.0K

-55.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,645 KMF 704.5K

19.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,399 KMF 599.3K

3.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$683 KMF 292.4K

-11.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.8

46.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Moroni: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $737 in Moroni. 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 13% higher in Moroni, 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 $20.00 in Moroni. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $286 – making Chiang Mai 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 Moroni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moroni costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $2,192 in Moroni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $407 in Moroni. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Moroni, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Moroni at $1,461. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moroni it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,461 in Moroni. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moroni makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.