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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $883 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,501 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,118 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Oskemen 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$13.12 ₸5,977

-84.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$26.18 ₸11.9K

-24.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.96 ₸1,803

42.68%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$3.40 ₸1,547

-46.76%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$1.01 ₸462

-29.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.53 ₸242

-39.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.54 ₸703

45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.65 ₸752

120.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$1.41 ₸644

39.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.53 ₸242

183.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$1.33 ₸607

0.75%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$1.76 ₸800

28.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$9.71 ₸4,423

67.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$5.88 ₸2,679

-49.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$7.92 ₸3,609

25.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$1.15 ₸524

123.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$1.95 ₸890

-45.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$2.53 ₸1,151

-36.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$2.42 ₸1,100

-37.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.86 ₸392

47.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.48 ₸221

122.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.34 ₸156

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$1.07 ₸489

-52.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$2.18 ₸995

92.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$4.75 ₸2,165

276.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.43 ₸652

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$1.66 ₸756

71.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.26 ₸119

257.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$1.09 ₸498

12.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.31 ₸142

87.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$2.42 ₸1,100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$0.63 ₸289

123.81%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$31.5K ₸14.4M

-31.99%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$30.7K ₸14.0M

-11.05%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$44.52 ₸20.3K

43.01%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$11.31 ₸5,153

13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$22.60 ₸10.3K

-10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$25.89 ₸11.8K

49.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$19.64 ₸8,949

-79.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$4.90 ₸2,230

37.55%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$65.9 ₸30.0K

1080.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$2,790 ₸1.3M

423.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$113 ₸51.5K

-51.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$80.8 ₸36.8K

-68.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$97.4 ₸44.4K

-3.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$121 ₸55.3K

-39.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$336 ₸152.9K

45.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$222 ₸101.3K

30.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$641 ₸292.1K

39.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$572 ₸260.6K

-9.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,109 ₸505.2K

76.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$805 ₸366.9K

83.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$784 ₸357.0K

-23.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.5

-71.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $336 in Oskemen. 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 30% higher in Oskemen, 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 $26.00 in Oskemen. Groceries tell a different story – $240 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Oskemen – so Oskemen 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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Oskemen, 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 $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,325 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Oskemen 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. Oskemen costs $883 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 Oskemen. 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.