Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Say'un Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Say'un

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $91.4 in Say'un, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $150 in Say'un, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $210 in Say'un, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 939% more than Say'un, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Say'un are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Say'un 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$1.08 YER 256

48.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.14 YER 507

-33.64%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$2.26 YER 535

16.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.23 YER 527

-50.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$2.17 YER 514

-24.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$2.21 YER 524

-30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$2.27 YER 536

-45.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.14 YER 506

-47.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.98 YER 231

-24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.01 YER 239

-50.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 YER 329

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

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

$13.35 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Say'un: September 5, 2026

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 Say'un: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 939% more than Say'un, 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $137 in Say'un. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $91.4 in Say'un. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 167% 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 Say'un, where all-in costs run around $91.4, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Say'un 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. Say'un costs $91.4 versus $950 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 Say'un. 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.