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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $841 in Sentul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,264 in Sentul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,687 in Sentul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sentul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sentul 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.56 MYR 14.08

-44.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$18.80 MYR 74.3

0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.73 MYR 18.69

67.44%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.83 MYR 11.20

-32.51%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.68 MYR 2.68

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.45 MYR 1.76

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.61 MYR 14.27

-38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$5.16 MYR 20.39

-26.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.80 MYR 7.12

-8.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.00 MYR 3.97

62.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.81 MYR 7.14

-34.81%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.81 MYR 7.15

11.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.48 MYR 41.41

51.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.37 MYR 13.33

-10.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.22 MYR 32.47

31.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.67 MYR 10.54

-2.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.45 MYR 5.71

-15.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.49 MYR 9.82

-31.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.25 MYR 4.95

26.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.13 MYR 4.46

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.34 MYR 5.30

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.87 MYR 3.45

-22.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.60 MYR 2.37

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.15 MYR 16.39

9.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$14.57 MYR 57.5

24.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.75 MYR 10.88

-33.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.90 MYR 11.44

11.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.68 MYR 2.68

30.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$11.83 MYR 46.72

63.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.01 MYR 3.99

33.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.98 MYR 3.88

37.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$9.42 MYR 37.19

-12.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.46 MYR 1.82

176.09%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$31.8K MYR 125.5K

-33.40%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$28.1K MYR 111.0K

-19.98%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$40.35 MYR 159

73.85%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.11 MYR 35.97

51.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$23.66 MYR 93.5

-25.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.07 MYR 146

12.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.76 MYR 22.73

14.58%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$4.99 MYR 19.69

15.83%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$190 MYR 749

61.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,898 MYR 27.2K

114.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$65.7 MYR 260

-17.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$27.85 MYR 110

-6.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$59.0 MYR 233

43.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$48.36 MYR 191

43.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$387 MYR 1,529

9.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$266 MYR 1,051

-10.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$632 MYR 2,496

30.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$473 MYR 1,867

9.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,791 MYR 7,076

14.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$920 MYR 3,634

65.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$922 MYR 3,643

-31.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sentul: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $387 in Sentul. 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 45% higher in Sentul, 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Sentul. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $219 in Sentul – so Sentul 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Sentul, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,261 in Sentul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $190 in Sentul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $841 in Sentul, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sentul costs $841 versus $852 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 Sentul. 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.