Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sanliurfa

For one person, living is cheaper in Sanliurfa: $858 a month against $925 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $800 less a year. The total is higher in Chiang Mai despite lower rent and utilities.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
42

Cost of Living Index in Sanliurfa
Learn more

Sanliurfa Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$925

/mo nomad

Sanliurfa

🇹🇷 Turkey

$858

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sanliurfa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Sanliurfa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $925
Sanliurfa $858

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,298 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,414
Sanliurfa $1,298

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,737 in Sanliurfa, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,903
Sanliurfa $1,737

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Sanliurfa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Sanliurfa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sanliurfa 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 ฿76.5

$3.93 ₺195

-41.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿656

$16.28 ₺806

20.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ฿188

$7.19 ₺356

-21.97%

Cappuccino

$1.66 ฿55.6

$3.39 ₺168

-51.03%

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

$0.70 ฿23.40

$0.99 ₺49.12

-29.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.24

$0.20 ₺9.92

55.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿80.4

$3.25 ₺161

-25.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$3.55 ₺176

4.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.3

$0.93 ₺45.96

109.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.03

$0.74 ₺36.74

90.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.62

$1.65 ₺81.5

-20.61%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.73 ₺85.6

26.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 ฿556

$5.51 ₺273

202.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.76 ฿92.2

$3.20 ₺158

-13.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ฿304

$15.17 ₺751

-39.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 ฿80.0

$1.66 ₺82.0

43.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ฿34.26

$1.58 ₺78.2

-34.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.83 ₺40.95

96.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.0

$0.77 ₺38.37

94.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ฿43.13

$0.58 ₺28.76

122.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.03

$0.48 ₺23.73

131.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.08

$0.79 ₺39.23

-8.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$0.38 ₺18.84

39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿144

$1.89 ₺93.7

128.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 ฿600

$7.93 ₺393

126.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$2.16 ₺107

-26.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.0

$2.05 ₺102

38.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ฿28.86

$0.73 ₺36.13

17.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$10.11 ₺500

427.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ฿40.29

$1.53 ₺75.9

-20.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿18.99

$0.74 ₺36.87

-22.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 ฿78.6

$6.66 ₺330

-64.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.96

$1.13 ₺55.8

27.43%

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

$20.7K ฿692.8K

$40.9K ₺2.0M

-49.26%

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

$26.8K ฿895.7K

$38.5K ₺1.9M

-30.40%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$81.6 ₺4,042

-23.65%

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

$12.11 ฿405

$9.99 ₺494

21.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.94 ฿666

$26.55 ₺1,314

-24.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.07 ฿1,239

$53.3 ₺2,637

-30.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.78 ฿126

$20.34 ₺1,007

-81.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ฿217

$5.36 ₺266

21.27%

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

$793 ฿26.5K

$199 ₺9,860

298.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿494.9K

$12.2K ₺604.6K

21.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 ฿1,796

$15.23 ₺754

252.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.62 ฿823

$39.58 ₺1,959

-37.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 ฿3,036

$49.49 ₺2,450

83.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 ฿2,378

$30.02 ₺1,486

136.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 ฿15.2K

$418 ₺20.7K

9.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ฿9,954

$301 ₺14.9K

-0.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 ฿30.4K

$768 ₺38.0K

18.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 ฿18.5K

$571 ₺28.2K

-2.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,931 ฿64.5K

$1,572 ₺77.8K

22.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,445 ฿48.3K

$984 ₺48.7K

46.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 ฿19.7K

$797 ₺39.5K

-25.87%

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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Sanliurfa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$298 32.2%

Sanliurfa

$301 35.1% 1% $3

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$235 25.5%

Sanliurfa

$174 20.3% 25.9% $61

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$108 11.7%

Sanliurfa

$60 7% 44.1% $48

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.2%

Sanliurfa

$118 13.8% 25.2% $24

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.5%

Sanliurfa

$122 14.2% 55.1% $43

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sanliurfa

$18 2.1% 69.9% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Sanliurfa

$64 7.5% 27.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $418 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 35% 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 $16.00 in Sanliurfa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $174 – making Sanliurfa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇹🇷 Sanliurfa

🕒 Local time

19:34 7:34 PM

15:34 3:34 PM

4 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

2,143,020

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 TRY = 2.02 USD

100 TRY = 1.8 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Sanliurfa 6,150 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Sanliurfa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 8% more than Sanliurfa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,287 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 $793 per month in Chiang Mai and $199 in Sanliurfa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% 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 $858, than in Chiang Mai at $925. 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 $858 versus $925 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.