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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 20.3% cheaper than Phuket without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 25% cheaper than Phuket without rent, and 43.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$4.68 ฿151
-56.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$46.4 ฿1,502
-59.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$8.65 ฿280
-11.33%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.09 ฿100
-35.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.73 ฿23.53
12.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.37 ฿11.95
-10.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.39 ฿77.4
-11.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.62 ฿117
3.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.24 ฿72.5
-26.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.8 ฿58.2
-12.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.24 ฿72.3
-46.88%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.23 ฿72.1
-11.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$19.31 ฿625
-17.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.77 ฿122
-17.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.05 ฿422
-14.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.28 ฿106
-15.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.63 ฿52.6
-25.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.4 ฿77.7
-28.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.99 ฿64.3
-22.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.53 ฿49.62
-12.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.49 ฿48.11
-18.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.02 ฿32.87
-29.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.48 ฿15.61
10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$4.32 ฿140
9.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$21.68 ฿702
-15.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.77 ฿57.3
1.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.79 ฿90.4
15.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.35 ฿43.74
-30.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$11.76 ฿380
60.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.15 ฿102
-54.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1 ฿32.3
35.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$13.64 ฿442
-42.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.3 ฿42.2
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$27.4K ฿885.2K
-22.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-35.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$123 ฿3,970
-42.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$13.93 ฿451
-1.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$18.24 ฿590
-3.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$60.8 ฿1,966
-31.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$17.11 ฿554
-59.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$9.07 ฿294
-36.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$694 ฿22.5K
-55.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$15.9K ฿514.4K
-7.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$57.5 ฿1,861
-3.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$34.51 ฿1,117
-23.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$115 ฿3,727
-26.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$84.8 ฿2,743
-15.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$611 ฿19.8K
-28.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$442 ฿14.3K
-46.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,014 ฿65.2K
-59.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,460 ฿47.2K
-65.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$4,244 ฿137.3K
-48.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$2,886 ฿93.4K
-46.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$697 ฿22.5K
0.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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