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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $672 in Msaken, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,081 in Msaken, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,490 in Msaken, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Msaken, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Msaken are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Msaken 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$5.05 TND 14.59

-58.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$22.27 TND 64.4

-11.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$6.08 TND 17.60

-7.07%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.05 TND 3.03

72.38%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.75 TND 2.18

-5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.38 TND 1.11

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$1.69 TND 4.89

32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.74 TND 7.93

32.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.49 TND 1.41

300.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.33 TND 0.96

354.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.79 TND 5.18

-25.14%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.67 TND 4.82

35.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$14.31 TND 41.37

13.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$6.06 TND 17.52

-51.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$14.47 TND 41.86

-31.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.09 TND 6.04

22.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$3.80 TND 10.98

-72.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.11 TND 3.22

45.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.74 TND 2.15

105.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.89 TND 2.58

42.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.67 TND 1.93

59.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.43 TND 1.26

67.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.34 TND 1.00

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.88 TND 11.22

7.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$5.92 TND 17.13

201.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.01 TND 2.93

67.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

$1.41 TND 4.09

101.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

$0.32 TND 0.94

190.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

$10.14 TND 29.32

431.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$0.33 TND 0.95

272.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.36 TND 1.03

61.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$4.10 TND 11.87

-40.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.83 TND 2.41

69.88%

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$39.8K TND 115.2K

-46.16%

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$37.7K TND 109.0K

-27.49%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$64.1 TND 185

-0.64%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$8.61 TND 24.91

49.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$20.62 TND 59.6

-1.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$21.63 TND 62.6

79.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$14.42 TND 41.70

-72.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.36 TND 18.39

5.97%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$101 TND 292

671.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$3,069 TND 8,875

376.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$48.35 TND 140

12.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$67.6 TND 196

-62.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$121 TND 351

-22.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$87.1 TND 252

-15.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$111 TND 320

341.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$95.5 TND 276

202.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$203 TND 587

340.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$156 TND 452

231.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$985 TND 2,848

98.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

$628 TND 1,817

135.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$247 TND 715

143.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.28

-45.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Msaken: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $111 in Msaken. 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 143% 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 Msaken. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $210 in Msaken – so Msaken 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 Msaken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 41% more than Msaken, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,008 in Msaken. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $101 in Msaken. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 Msaken, where all-in costs run around $672, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Msaken 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. Msaken costs $672 versus $947 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 Msaken. 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.