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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Ordu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,118 in Ordu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,504 in Ordu, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Ordu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Ordu are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ordu 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$8.38 ₺409
-75.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$24.51 ₺1,196
-19.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$8.45 ₺412
-32.90%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$2.52 ₺123
-28.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$1.05 ₺51.2
-26.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$0.27 ₺13.27
29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$1.98 ₺96.7
11.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$2.01 ₺98.2
88.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$0.78 ₺38.11
162.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$0.40 ₺19.56
277.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$1.53 ₺74.6
-8.50%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$1.64 ₺79.9
37.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$8.79 ₺429
84.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$3.64 ₺177
-20.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$14.29 ₺697
-34.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$1.25 ₺61.0
114.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$2.08 ₺101
-47.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$0.74 ₺36.13
118.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$1.06 ₺51.5
37.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$0.32 ₺15.78
300.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$0.22 ₺10.68
381.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$0.82 ₺39.90
-12.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$0.62 ₺30.08
-14.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$2.10 ₺102
101.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$25.60 ₺1,249
-28.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.63 ₺79.4
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$1.50 ₺73.3
93.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$0.72 ₺35.08
22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$1.81 ₺88.4
-35.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$0.61 ₺29.83
-4.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$5.10 ₺249
-53.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$1.22 ₺59.5
18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$41.7K ₺2.0M
-49.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$40.0K ₺2.0M
-33.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$69.3 ₺3,379
-8.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$10.18 ₺497
26.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$10.47 ₺511
95.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$20.73 ₺1,011
88.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$4.05 ₺198
62.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$258 ₺12.6K
203.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$26.97 ₺1,315
104.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$35.64 ₺1,739
-30.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$40.50 ₺1,976
132.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$25.14 ₺1,226
194.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$305 ₺14.9K
60.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
$206 ₺10.0K
39.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
$515 ₺25.1K
73.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$347 ₺16.9K
50.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
$823 ₺40.1K
139.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
$644 ₺31.4K
124.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Ordu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
$1,222 ₺59.6K
-50.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
20
-72.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ordu: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $305 in Ordu. 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 103% higher in Ordu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $25.00 in Ordu. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $213 in Ordu – so Ordu 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 Ordu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Ordu?
Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Ordu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Ordu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,099 in Ordu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Ordu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ordu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Ordu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $25.00 in Ordu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Ordu?
Groceries cost about 13% 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.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chiang Mai or in Ordu?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ordu, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ordu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Ordu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ordu costs $733 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Ordu?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Ordu?
If budget matters most, go with Ordu. 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.

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