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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $902 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,603 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,304 in Samsun, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Samsun are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Samsun 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$8.10 ₺394

-74.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$62.4 ₺3,037

-68.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.74 ₺377

-26.74%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.21 ₺156

-43.61%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.95 ₺46.15

-18.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.27 ₺13.16

29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.93 ₺93.8

14.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$2.70 ₺132

40.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.17 ₺56.9

75.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.67 ₺81.5

-9.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$2.73 ₺133

-48.72%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.58 ₺126

-12.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$8.59 ₺418

88.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$5.69 ₺277

-49.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$24.40 ₺1,187

-61.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.44 ₺119

9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.37 ₺115

-54.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.54 ₺74.9

5.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.06 ₺51.5

37.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.48 ₺23.16

166.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.37 ₺18.04

186.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.84 ₺41.11

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.58 ₺28.04

-8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.09 ₺101

102.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$9.45 ₺460

93.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.70 ₺82.7

-4.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.28 ₺111

27.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.56 ₺27.35

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$10.78 ₺525

398.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.90 ₺92.5

-38.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.58 ₺28.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$5.12 ₺249

-53.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.26 ₺61.1

15.08%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$41.9K ₺2.0M

-49.88%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$39.7K ₺1.9M

-33.39%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$89.1 ₺4,335

-28.56%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$11.67 ₺568

10.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$12.58 ₺612

63.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$30.64 ₺1,491

27.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

$6.10 ₺297

-35.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$4.18 ₺203

57.42%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$261 ₺12.7K

200.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$27.96 ₺1,361

97.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$30.69 ₺1,493

-19.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$71.5 ₺3,477

31.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$48.71 ₺2,370

51.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$357 ₺17.4K

37.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$255 ₺12.4K

13.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$759 ₺36.9K

17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$615 ₺29.9K

-15.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$986 ₺48.0K

100.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$663 ₺32.2K

117.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$927 ₺45.1K

-35.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-88.63%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Samsun: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $357 in Samsun. 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 54% higher in Samsun, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Samsun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $259 – 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Samsun, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,353 in Samsun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Samsun, 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 $261 in Samsun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samsun, where all-in costs run around $902, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Samsun 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. Samsun costs $902 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 Samsun. 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.