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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $642 in Sale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,074 in Sale, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,506 in Sale, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Sale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sale are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sale 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.58 MAD 34.04

-41.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$18.60 MAD 177

5.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.34 MAD 69.8

-22.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.87 MAD 17.79

-3.21%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.67 MAD 6.38

14.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.33 MAD 3.12

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$2.68 MAD 25.53

-17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.13 MAD 29.72

21.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.92 MAD 8.71

122.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.67 MAD 6.38

125.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.93 MAD 18.34

-27.46%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.94 MAD 18.41

16.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$11.66 MAD 111

38.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$6.64 MAD 63.1

-56.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$12.48 MAD 119

-24.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$1.38 MAD 13.13

94.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.26 MAD 12.02

-13.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$0.86 MAD 8.16

88.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.85 MAD 8.10

71.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.70 MAD 6.66

82.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.75 MAD 7.14

41.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.44 MAD 4.21

63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.59 MAD 5.65

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.93 MAD 37.38

7.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$4.67 MAD 44.45

291.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.24 MAD 21.27

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$2.22 MAD 21.13

30.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.56 MAD 5.36

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$23.91 MAD 227

124.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.71 MAD 6.73

64.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.55 MAD 5.22

5.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$4.31 MAD 41.01

-44.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.47 MAD 14.02

-1.36%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$34.6K MAD 329.2K

-39.32%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$31.3K MAD 297.4K

-15.52%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$39.29 MAD 374

62.00%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.74 MAD 102

20.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$42.24 MAD 402

-51.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$16.93 MAD 161

130.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$41.72 MAD 397

-90.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.17 MAD 49.15

27.27%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$105 MAD 997

647.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$5,986 MAD 56.9K

145.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$33.21 MAD 316

65.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$47.35 MAD 450

-47.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$73.5 MAD 699

27.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$67.5 MAD 642

9.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$214 MAD 2,039

128.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$108 MAD 1,023

167.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$368 MAD 3,496

142.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$263 MAD 2,496

98.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$1,159 MAD 11.0K

70.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$847 MAD 8,058

70.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$535 MAD 5,085

12.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sale: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $214 in Sale. 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 12% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Sale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $197 – making Sale 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 Sale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 45% more than Sale, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $963 in Sale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $105 in Sale. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Sale, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sale costs $642 versus $932 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 Sale. 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.