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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $973 in Neum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,456 in Neum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,940 in Neum, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 4% cheaper than Neum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Neum are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Neum 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.28 BAM 8.98

-60.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$28.94 BAM 49.26

-32.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.06 BAM 10.32

-6.44%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.88 BAM 3.21

-3.72%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.80 BAM 3.06

-57.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.23 BAM 2.09

-71.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.59 BAM 4.41

-14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.27 BAM 3.86

66.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.16 BAM 1.97

76.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.92 BAM 1.56

64.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.14 BAM 3.65

-34.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.61 BAM 4.44

-13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.03 BAM 13.67

101.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$7.47 BAM 12.72

-61.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.82 BAM 18.41

-12.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.18 BAM 2.01

127.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.63 BAM 2.77

-33.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.41 BAM 2.40

14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.23 BAM 2.09

18.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.00 BAM 1.70

28.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.05 BAM 1.79

0.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.74 BAM 1.26

-2.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.69 BAM 1.17

-23.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.90 BAM 6.64

8.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$4.19 BAM 7.13

336.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.77 BAM 1.31

111.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$0.90 BAM 1.54

222.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$1.36 BAM 2.32

-35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$59.9 BAM 102

-10.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.72 BAM 2.92

-31.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.61 BAM 1.04

-4.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.93 BAM 10.09

-59.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.63 BAM 2.78

-11.04%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.3K BAM 53.2K

-32.85%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$22.0K BAM 37.5K

20.00%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$135 BAM 230

-52.94%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$17.97 BAM 30.58

-28.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$27.00 BAM 45.94

-24.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$33.89 BAM 57.7

15.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$11.60 BAM 19.74

-66.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.78 BAM 9.84

13.84%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$203 BAM 345

286.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$2,381 BAM 4,052

516.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$61.1 BAM 104

-9.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$33.73 BAM 57.4

-26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$88.4 BAM 150

6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$86.6 BAM 147

-14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$350 BAM 595

40.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$261 BAM 444

10.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$530 BAM 902

68.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$369 BAM 628

41.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,574 BAM 4,380

-23.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,789 BAM 3,044

-19.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$894 BAM 1,521

-32.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.9

92.07%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Neum: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $350 in Neum. 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 49% higher in Neum, 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 $29.00 in Neum. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $191 in Neum – so Neum 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 Neum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Neum costs about 4% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,460 in Neum. 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 $203 in Neum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Neum – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Neum at $973. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Neum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $973 in Neum. 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, Neum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.