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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $878 in Saryagash, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,423 in Saryagash, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,968 in Saryagash, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Saryagash, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Saryagash are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Saryagash 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.25 ₸4,580

-79.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$31.42 ₸14.0K

-37.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.23 ₸3,678

-31.11%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.38 ₸1,064

-23.95%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.07 ₸478

-28.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.50 ₸225

-30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.20 ₸535

84.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.33 ₸1,040

62.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.38 ₸618

48.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.44 ₸197

243.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.76 ₸788

-20.45%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$1.71 ₸762

32.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.88 ₸3,967

82.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.83 ₸2,605

-50.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$9.46 ₸4,226

-0.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.58 ₸708

69.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$2.35 ₸1,048

-53.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.45 ₸1,093

-33.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.85 ₸825

-21.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.69 ₸309

85.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.53 ₸236

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.16 ₸518

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.93 ₸414

-43.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.43 ₸1,086

74.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$8.78 ₸3,922

108.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.27 ₸566

28.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.18 ₸973

33.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.23 ₸102

282.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$17.86 ₸7,981

201.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.16 ₸519

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.72 ₸321

-19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$5.96 ₸2,663

-59.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.56 ₸251

158.93%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$26.8K ₸12.0M

-21.45%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$30.9K ₸13.8M

-14.44%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$65.9 ₸29.4K

-3.44%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.53 ₸4,257

35.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$15.67 ₸7,000

30.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$42.36 ₸18.9K

-7.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.62 ₸2,510

17.08%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$156 ₸69.7K

402.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$5,065 ₸2.3M

189.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$61.7 ₸27.5K

-10.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$43.06 ₸19.2K

-42.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$91.8 ₸41.0K

2.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$77.9 ₸34.8K

-5.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$372 ₸166.2K

31.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$231 ₸103.4K

24.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$614 ₸274.5K

45.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$498 ₸222.3K

4.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$946 ₸422.5K

108.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$804 ₸359.3K

79.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.25

-71.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $372 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Saryagash. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $204 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 6% more than Saryagash, 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 $1,318 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.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $156 in Saryagash. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 Saryagash, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Saryagash 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. Saryagash costs $878 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 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.