Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Roi Et Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Roi Et

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $637 in Roi Et, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,073 in Roi Et, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,509 in Roi Et, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Roi Et, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Roi Et are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Roi Et 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

$1.97 ฿66.2

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$15.10 ฿508

21.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$4.28 ฿144

74.77%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.75 ฿59.0

15.43%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$0.71 ฿23.84

19.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.27 ฿9.06

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$1.58 ฿53.1

35.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.39 ฿80.5

50.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.95 ฿65.8

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.07 ฿36.03

46.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

$2.72 ฿91.5

-56.25%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.20 ฿73.9

-11.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

$16.39 ฿552

-1.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.84 ฿163

-38.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$10.66 ฿359

2.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$4.22 ฿142

-35.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

$1.57 ฿52.9

-25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

$3.00 ฿101

-43.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.96 ฿65.8

-18.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.84 ฿62.1

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

$1.63 ฿54.9

-26.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

$0.75 ฿25.25

-10.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

$0.58 ฿19.62

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$4.44 ฿149

4.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$15.19 ฿511

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$2.10 ฿70.6

-11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.81 ฿94.5

17.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.95 ฿31.83

-7.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$1.09 ฿36.83

24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

$1.15 ฿38.62

16.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.06 ฿204

35.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.28 ฿43.00

-4.69%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$27.5K ฿924.1K

-22.24%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$25.6K ฿862.4K

-12.09%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

$52.3 ฿1,759

35.15%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$13.64 ฿459

2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

$14.89 ฿501

17.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

$39.06 ฿1,314

7.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$12.22 ฿411

-43.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$7.30 ฿246

-18.90%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$302 ฿10.2K

2.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

$11.7K ฿394.2K

27.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

$37.83 ฿1,273

47.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

$34.68 ฿1,167

-24.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

$53.9 ฿1,812

54.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

$48.06 ฿1,617

46.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$419 ฿14.1K

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

$80.0 ฿2,691

198.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$237 ฿7,960

247.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$258 ฿8,677

98.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$2,044 ฿68.8K

-6.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

$1,622 ฿54.6K

-9.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$888 ฿29.9K

-34.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

-8.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Roi Et: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $419 in Roi Et. 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 53% higher in Roi Et, 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 $15.00 in Roi Et. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $273 in Roi Et – so Chiang Mai 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 Roi Et: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 35% more than Roi Et, 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 $956 in Roi Et. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Roi Et, 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 $15.00 in Roi Et. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $637 in Roi Et, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Roi Et costs $637 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 Roi Et. 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.