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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,157 in Oistins, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,743 in Oistins, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,329 in Oistins, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Oistins, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Oistins are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Oistins 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$19.70 BBD 39.40

-90.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$6.10 BBD 12.21

-68.03%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$1.26 BBD 2.53

-32.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$2.97 BBD 5.93

-44.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$1.70 BBD 3.40

-46.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.93 BBD 3.86

-33.68%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$47.62 BBD 95.2

-62.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$50.5 BBD 101

-18.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$50.8 BBD 102

7.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$737 BBD 1,474

-67.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$1,496 BBD 2,993

-65.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Oistins: June 15, 2026

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 Oistins: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Oistins costs about 36% 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,735 in Oistins. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $1,157 in Oistins. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 717% cheaper in Oistins – 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 $848 in Chiang Mai and $1,157 in Oistins, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $848 versus $1,157 in Oistins. 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, Oistins makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.