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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $952 in Neum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,490 in Neum, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,027 in Neum, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Neum, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Neum are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Neum 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$8.60 BAM 14.71

-77.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$41.64 BAM 71.2

-55.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.53 BAM 12.88

-0.66%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.65 BAM 2.82

22.42%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$2.02 BAM 3.45

-57.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$1.15 BAM 1.96

-68.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$2.08 BAM 3.55

2.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.78 BAM 4.76

29.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.34 BAM 2.28

23.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.28 BAM 2.19

22.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$1.58 BAM 2.70

-24.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.95 BAM 5.05

-34.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$9.25 BAM 15.82

75.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$8.51 BAM 14.56

-64.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$11.70 BAM 20.01

-6.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.44 BAM 2.45

88.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.64 BAM 2.80

-28.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$1.94 BAM 3.32

-12.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.01 BAM 3.45

-20.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.16 BAM 1.98

18.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.11 BAM 1.89

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$1.15 BAM 1.97

-41.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.71 BAM 1.21

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$3.78 BAM 6.47

22.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$4.04 BAM 6.91

336.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$0.71 BAM 1.22

161.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.08 BAM 1.85

205.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$1.82 BAM 3.11

-51.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

$35.23 BAM 60.3

-45.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.43 BAM 2.45

-4.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.09 BAM 1.86

22.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$7.24 BAM 12.38

13.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.48 BAM 2.53

-17.57%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$28.2K BAM 48.2K

-24.28%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$26.1K BAM 44.7K

-13.77%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$174 BAM 298

-59.43%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$19.43 BAM 33.23

-27.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$24.03 BAM 41.10

-27.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$29.92 BAM 51.2

40.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$11.09 BAM 18.97

-37.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.67 BAM 7.99

26.77%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$207 BAM 354

49.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$3,694 BAM 6,319

302.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$70.3 BAM 120

-20.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$36.78 BAM 62.9

-29.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$87.8 BAM 150

-5.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$114 BAM 195

-38.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$262 BAM 448

64.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$167 BAM 285

43.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$363 BAM 621

126.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$314 BAM 537

63.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,490 BAM 4,259

-23.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,817 BAM 3,107

-19.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$877 BAM 1,500

-33.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

72.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Neum: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $262 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 51% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $42.00 in Neum. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $217 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 11% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,428 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $207 in Neum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Neum – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $952 in Neum, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $952 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.