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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,246 in Roseau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,072 in Roseau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,899 in Roseau, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Roseau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Roseau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Roseau 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$7.53 EC$20.32

-73.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$55.8 EC$151

-67.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.78 EC$18.31

10.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$4.19 EC$11.31

-51.79%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$2.42 EC$6.52

-64.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.28 EC$6.16

-84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.89 EC$5.11

13.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.61 EC$7.05

37.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.00 EC$8.09

-45.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.66 EC$4.49

-5.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$0.97 EC$2.63

22.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$5.56 EC$15.02

-65.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$2.27 EC$6.13

613.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$10.51 EC$28.38

-71.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$12.16 EC$32.84

-10.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$6.16 EC$16.63

-56.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$2.23 EC$6.01

-47.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$4.82 EC$13.00

-64.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$5.16 EC$13.94

-68.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$3.25 EC$8.77

-57.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$3.01 EC$8.13

-60.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$2.14 EC$5.77

-68.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$2.90 EC$7.84

-80.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$11.26 EC$30.41

56.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$2.71 EC$7.33

-31.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$2.95 EC$7.96

11.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$31.69 EC$85.6

-38.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$3.61 EC$9.75

-62.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$3.78 EC$10.20

-64.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$10.06 EC$27.17

-18.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.28 EC$3.46

-4.69%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$33.2K EC$89.8K

-35.78%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$29.3K EC$79.0K

-23.04%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$140 EC$378

-49.48%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$42.21 EC$114

-66.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$55.9 EC$151

-68.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$46.14 EC$125

-8.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

$22.85 EC$61.7

-69.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$8.40 EC$22.68

-29.52%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$110 EC$296

181.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$3,361 EC$9,076

342.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$78.4 EC$212

-28.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$46.89 EC$127

-44.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$100 EC$271

-17.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$91.3 EC$247

-22.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$280 EC$756

54.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$205 EC$553

16.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$883 EC$2,383

-6.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$624 EC$1,686

-17.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$125 EC$339

1426.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$57.3 EC$155

2462.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$478 EC$1,291

21.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.6

-34.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Roseau: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Roseau. 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 21% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $56.0 in Roseau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $359 – making Chiang Mai 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 Roseau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Roseau costs about 45% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,869 in Roseau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $110 in Roseau. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Roseau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Roseau at $1,246. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roseau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,246 in Roseau. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roseau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.