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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $884 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,342 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,801 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Sanliurfa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanliurfa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Sanliurfa 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$4.16 ₺200

-49.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$16.72 ₺802

18.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$7.40 ₺355

-20.95%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$3.19 ₺153

-44.83%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.93 ₺44.62

-20.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.20 ₺9.58

65.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$3.49 ₺167

-29.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$3.74 ₺180

3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$0.83 ₺39.98

128.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.70 ₺33.45

138.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.70 ₺81.7

-20.59%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.97 ₺94.6

8.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$5.94 ₺285

167.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.57 ₺171

-20.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$15.90 ₺763

-33.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.33 ₺63.6

78.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.59 ₺76.2

-32.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$0.81 ₺38.67

87.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$0.81 ₺39.02

85.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.57 ₺27.34

124.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.41 ₺19.47

168.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.74 ₺35.66

-6.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.43 ₺20.88

13.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.95 ₺93.6

118.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$8.45 ₺406

98.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.27 ₺109

-26.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$2.11 ₺101

33.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.70 ₺33.39

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$31.37 ₺1,505

75.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.62 ₺78.0

-25.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.71 ₺33.90

-23.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$5.39 ₺259

-56.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$1.14 ₺54.7

25.44%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$43.2K ₺2.1M

-51.21%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$39.8K ₺1.9M

-31.91%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$84.1 ₺4,038

-23.05%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$10.44 ₺501

26.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$10.96 ₺526

77.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$53.5 ₺2,568

-26.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$20.59 ₺988

-81.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$3.88 ₺186

70.62%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$209 ₺10.0K

285.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$12.3K ₺589.2K

23.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$15.60 ₺749

250.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$14.54 ₺698

74.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$55.5 ₺2,663

65.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$31.09 ₺1,492

140.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$435 ₺20.9K

7.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$314 ₺15.1K

-10.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$727 ₺34.9K

22.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$586 ₺28.1K

-11.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$1,265 ₺60.7K

56.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,012 ₺48.6K

44.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$846 ₺40.6K

-30.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-89.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Sanliurfa: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $435 in Sanliurfa. 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 43% higher in Sanliurfa, 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 $17.00 in Sanliurfa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $180 – making Sanliurfa 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 Sanliurfa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Sanliurfa, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,325 in Sanliurfa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $209 in Sanliurfa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sanliurfa, where all-in costs run around $884, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Sanliurfa 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. Sanliurfa costs $884 versus $920 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 Sanliurfa. 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.