😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Sangre Grande, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,190 in Sangre Grande, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,647 in Sangre Grande, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Sangre Grande, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Sangre Grande are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Sangre Grande46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.2
$6.50TTD 43.81
-68.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿652
$45.00TTD 304
-56.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$7.42TTD 50.1
-23.58%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.0
$3.75TTD 25.26
-51.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.55
$1.05TTD 7.05
-26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.48
$0.76TTD 5.09
-53.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.6
$1.81TTD 12.19
22.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿126
$2.61TTD 17.64
45.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.1
$2.07TTD 13.96
-0.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.4
$2.08TTD 14.03
-27.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.51
$2.00TTD 13.49
-30.00%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.1
$3.92TTD 26.43
-42.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿538
$8.09TTD 54.6
100.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.3
$5.06TTD 34.10
-42.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿313
$8.78TTD 59.2
7.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.1
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.23
$2.47TTD 16.67
-55.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.8
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.55
$5.00TTD 33.75
-70.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.48
$0.72TTD 4.83
77.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.17
$0.73TTD 4.91
45.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.85
$1.50TTD 10.09
-52.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.49
$1.20TTD 8.07
-55.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$3.85TTD 25.97
9.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿608
$17.92TTD 121
2.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.2
$1.49TTD 10.07
9.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.5
$3.12TTD 21.07
-7.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.20
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,788
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿38.99
$0.86TTD 5.83
36.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.22
$0.91TTD 6.13
-36.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.3
$14.50TTD 97.8
-83.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.22
$1.02TTD 6.88
42.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿698.6K
$51.7KTTD 348.6K
-59.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿878.6K
$60.1KTTD 405.1K
-56.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,116
$44.72TTD 302
42.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿429
$42.76TTD 288
-69.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿682
$44.83TTD 302
-54.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,297
$45.07TTD 304
-13.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿219
$8.62TTD 58.2
-23.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.1K
$118TTD 796
564.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿487.9K
$18.3KTTD 123.5K
-19.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,833
$63.3TTD 427
-12.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿823
$37.00TTD 250
-33.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,130
$88.3TTD 595
6.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,459
$89.5TTD 603
-17.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,582
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sangre Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Sangre Grande: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Sangre Grande. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $254 – 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 Sangre Grande: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Sangre Grande?
Chiang Mai costs about 27% more than Sangre Grande, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sangre Grande?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,100 in Sangre Grande. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sangre Grande?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $45.00 in Sangre Grande. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Sangre Grande?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Sangre Grande?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sangre Grande, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sangre Grande it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Sangre Grande?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sangre Grande costs $733 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sangre Grande?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Sangre Grande?
If budget matters most, go with Sangre Grande. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared