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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 38.3% cheaper than Saipan without rent, and 50.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 43.8% cheaper than Saipan without rent, and 46% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$11.51 $11.51
-82.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$39.96 $39.96
-53.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$11.82 $11.82
-35.11%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.1 $5.1
-61.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$1.63 $1.63
-49.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.35 $1.35
-75.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$5.86 $5.86
-63.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$6.15 $6.15
-39.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.27 $2.27
-27.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$3.28 $3.28
-52.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$45.67 $45.67
-97.39%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$6.31 $6.31
-68.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$13.41 $13.41
-76.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$6.7 $6.7
-58.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.15 $2.15
-43.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$6.71 $6.71
-74.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.15 $2.15
-37.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.26 $2.26
-46.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$4.86 $4.86
-85.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$15.18 $15.18
21.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$6.33 $6.33
-77.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.9 $1.9
-28.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.48 $1.48
-15.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$37.6K $37.6K
-43.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$23.4K $23.4K
-6.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$330 $330
-78.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$66.2 $66.2
-79.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$59.8 $59.8
-70.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$46.99 $46.99
-11.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$8.03 $8.03
-27.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$5,897 $5,897
149.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$29.87 $29.87
85.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$40.34 $40.34
-34.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$69.6 $69.6
22.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$55.5 $55.5
29.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$629 $629
-30.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$442 $442
-46.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,041 $1,041
-21.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$864 $864
-42.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Saipan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$991 $991
-29.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
0
-

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Saipan: October 28, 2025

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