Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint Andrew Parish Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Saint Andrew Parish

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,857 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,562 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Saint Andrew Parish are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Saint Andrew Parish 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$7.67 JMD 1,207

-73.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$34.87 JMD 5,485

-46.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$6.20 JMD 976

26.77%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.92 JMD 302

5.73%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.91 JMD 143

-12.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.74 JMD 117

-52.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$2.43 JMD 382

-11.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$3.11 JMD 490

18.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$4.24 JMD 667

-59.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$1.05 JMD 165

49.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.22 JMD 191

-1.64%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.60 JMD 566

-45.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$10.97 JMD 1,725

47.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.23 JMD 980

-50.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$7.60 JMD 1,196

42.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$6.11 JMD 961

-54.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$3.12 JMD 490

-62.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$4.13 JMD 649

-58.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$3.05 JMD 480

-47.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$2.09 JMD 329

-33.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$1.93 JMD 303

-39.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$3.04 JMD 478

-78.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.50 JMD 235

-65.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$8.98 JMD 1,412

-48.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$11.52 JMD 1,812

54.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.80 JMD 440

-36.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$3.22 JMD 506

3.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.07 JMD 168

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$3.14 JMD 494

-57.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$6.28 JMD 988

29.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.27 JMD 200

-3.15%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

-50.26%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

-33.68%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$162 JMD 25.5K

-55.96%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$22.24 JMD 3,498

-37.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$52.0 JMD 8,180

-65.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$13.18 JMD 2,073

-56.60%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$223 JMD 35.1K

38.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,442 JMD 384.0K

501.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$26.01 JMD 4,091

114.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$25.72 JMD 4,046

1.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$71.0 JMD 11.2K

19.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

-8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$755 JMD 118.8K

-43.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$311 JMD 48.9K

-21.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$1,895 JMD 298.1K

-57.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$889 JMD 139.8K

-42.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$2,736 JMD 430.3K

-29.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$720 JMD 113.3K

-17.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $755 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 Saint Andrew Parish, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $324 – 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Andrew Parish costs about 35% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,728 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Saint Andrew Parish, 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 $852, than in Saint Andrew Parish at $1,152. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Andrew Parish it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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, Saint Andrew Parish makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.