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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $754 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,215 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,677 in Oskemen, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Oskemen 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.95 ₸1,857

-50.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$18.61 ₸8,747

-1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$3.58 ₸1,681

108.94%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.02 ₸950

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.81 ₸379

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.49 ₸231

-26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.40 ₸660

52.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$1.46 ₸685

145.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.09 ₸514

51.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$0.46 ₸216

241.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.15 ₸539

3.48%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$1.55 ₸728

25.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$7.57 ₸3,556

113.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.61 ₸2,166

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.07 ₸3,321

54.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$1.16 ₸544

133.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.82 ₸857

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$2.39 ₸1,126

-29.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$2.50 ₸1,176

-36.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.61 ₸285

126.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$0.44 ₸205

172.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.30 ₸143

123.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.79 ₸369

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.90 ₸891

144.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$4.80 ₸2,256

267.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.29 ₸605

44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.43 ₸671

130.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.21 ₸98.6

319.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.95 ₸445

43.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$0.29 ₸138

362.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$2.11 ₸994

289.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.46 ₸214

165.22%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$28.6K ₸13.5M

-25.47%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$27.1K ₸12.8M

-17.00%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$40.39 ₸19.0K

74.97%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$9.55 ₸4,488

47.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$16.80 ₸7,898

4.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.36 ₸11.0K

80.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$17.53 ₸8,238

-60.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.33 ₸2,035

36.72%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$59.5 ₸28.0K

418.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,502 ₸1.2M

494.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$118 ₸55.5K

-52.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$84.3 ₸39.6K

-69.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$99.3 ₸46.7K

-16.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$92.2 ₸43.3K

-23.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$328 ₸154.3K

31.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$222 ₸104.5K

7.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$534 ₸251.2K

53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$473 ₸222.5K

8.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,060 ₸498.2K

80.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$787 ₸369.9K

86.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$773 ₸363.2K

-25.03%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $328 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 33% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Oskemen. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $164 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 14% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,131 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $19.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $754 in Oskemen, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oskemen costs $754 versus $861 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.