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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $734 in Saryagash, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,182 in Saryagash, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,629 in Saryagash, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Saryagash, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Saryagash are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Saryagash 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$7.63 ₸3,707

-74.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$27.22 ₸13.2K

-31.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$6.68 ₸3,243

17.07%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$1.91 ₸925

2.09%

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

$0.85 ฿27.88

$0.92 ₸449

-7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.63

$0.52 ₸250

-32.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.20 ₸583

77.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$1.89 ₸920

97.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

$1.08 ₸526

58.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

$0.42 ₸204

288.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.30

$1.43 ₸692

-20.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

$1.60 ₸776

20.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

$8.92 ₸4,334

81.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$4.69 ₸2,278

-33.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

$7.30 ₸3,545

49.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.3

$1.35 ₸654

103.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.68

$1.88 ₸913

-35.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

$1.96 ₸953

-17.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.0

$1.95 ₸946

-18.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.89

$0.55 ₸266

154.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.32

$0.38 ₸184

207.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.69

$1.02 ₸494

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.29

$0.71 ₸345

-25.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

$2.00 ₸973

134.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

$7.92 ₸3,845

135.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

$0.93 ₸454

93.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.53 ₸741

111.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.37

$0.22 ₸105

309.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.10

$0.96 ₸466

46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.29

$0.63 ₸307

104.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

$4.82 ₸2,341

62.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.75

$0.50 ₸241

154.00%

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

$21.3K ฿697.7K

$20.1K ₸9.8M

5.74%

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

$22.2K ฿728.3K

$24.4K ₸11.9M

-8.96%

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

$69.1 ฿2,265

$49.23 ₸23.9K

40.30%

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

$14.08 ฿462

$8.62 ₸4,186

63.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿590

$12.53 ₸6,085

43.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,346

$33.14 ₸16.1K

23.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

$4.33 ₸2,105

36.72%

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

$299 ฿9,805

$212 ₸103.2K

40.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.3K

$4,783 ₸2.3M

212.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,794

$56.1 ₸27.2K

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

$34.53 ₸16.8K

-22.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,787

$90.1 ₸43.8K

-5.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,315

$79.2 ₸38.5K

-10.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$318 ₸154.5K

34.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,782

$205 ₸99.7K

15.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

$521 ₸253.1K

53.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$397 ₸192.7K

29.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.7K

$1,060 ₸514.7K

86.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

$813 ₸395.0K

81.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

-72.81%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $318 in Saryagash. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $27.00 in Saryagash. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $173 in Saryagash – so Saryagash wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Saryagash: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 18% more than Saryagash, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,101 in Saryagash. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $27.00 in Saryagash. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $734 in Saryagash, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saryagash costs $734 versus $866 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 Saryagash. 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.