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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $736 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,188 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,639 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Oskemen 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.95 ₸1,937

-50.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.49 ₸9,061

0.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$3.43 ₸1,683

127.99%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.00 ₸980

-2.50%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.80 ₸390

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.52 ₸255

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.34 ₸659

58.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.45 ₸710

157.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.09 ₸536

56.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.43 ₸212

279.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.14 ₸560

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.60 ₸782

20.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.66 ₸3,752

111.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.37 ₸2,142

-28.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.81 ₸3,339

60.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.15 ₸564

139.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.81 ₸889

-33.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$2.38 ₸1,168

-31.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.57 ₸1,258

-38.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.61 ₸297

129.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.47 ₸228

148.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.30 ₸149

120.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.73 ₸359

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.99 ₸975

135.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$4.65 ₸2,278

301.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.33 ₸653

35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.50 ₸734

115.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.21 ₸103

328.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.01 ₸497

39.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.29 ₸142

344.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.12 ₸1,040

269.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.46 ₸225

176.09%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.1K ₸13.8M

-24.40%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.0K ₸13.2M

-17.75%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$41.44 ₸20.3K

66.67%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$9.96 ₸4,881

41.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$16.59 ₸8,130

8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$23.36 ₸11.4K

75.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$17.33 ₸8,494

-59.84%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.38 ₸2,146

35.16%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$58.3 ₸28.6K

412.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,510 ₸1.2M

495.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$119 ₸58.3K

-54.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$82.8 ₸40.6K

-67.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$98.0 ₸48.0K

-13.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$94.0 ₸46.0K

-24.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$331 ₸162.3K

29.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$221 ₸108.3K

7.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$537 ₸263.3K

49.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$468 ₸229.2K

10.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,008 ₸494.2K

95.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$778 ₸381.1K

89.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$751 ₸368.2K

-17.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-73.68%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $331 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 22% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $162 – making Oskemen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 18% more than Oskemen, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,104 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $18.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $736 in Oskemen, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oskemen costs $736 versus $866 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.