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 $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $894 in Sentul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,306 in Sentul, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,718 in Sentul, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Sentul, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sentul are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Sentul 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$3.65 MYR 14.75

-42.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$21.94 MYR 88.6

-9.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.97 MYR 20.06

17.71%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$2.89 MYR 11.69

-39.10%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.78 MYR 3.15

-5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.51 MYR 2.06

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$3.37 MYR 13.63

-26.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$5.85 MYR 23.65

-33.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.76 MYR 7.11

7.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$1.03 MYR 4.16

62.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$1.50 MYR 6.08

-10.00%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.69 MYR 6.81

26.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$10.10 MYR 40.82

57.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.23 MYR 13.04

-12.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$9.80 MYR 39.57

7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$2.70 MYR 10.92

-11.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$1.76 MYR 7.10

-39.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$2.69 MYR 10.86

-43.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.63 MYR 6.58

-7.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.41 MYR 5.72

-9.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$1.67 MYR 6.76

-34.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$1.32 MYR 5.33

-47.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.51 MYR 2.07

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$4.23 MYR 17.08

0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$14.22 MYR 57.5

18.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$2.80 MYR 11.30

-40.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$3.00 MYR 12.11

-6.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.84 MYR 3.38

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$13.23 MYR 53.4

314.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$1.22 MYR 4.92

-1.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.38 MYR 1.54

42.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$9.35 MYR 37.77

-74.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.77 MYR 3.10

85.71%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$41.3K MYR 166.8K

-48.96%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$33.4K MYR 134.9K

-18.73%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$39.22 MYR 158

65.07%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$8.43 MYR 34.07

56.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$26.78 MYR 108

-27.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$39.44 MYR 159

0.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$7.44 MYR 30.07

-49.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$4.87 MYR 19.69

35.93%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$165 MYR 665

389.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$4,491 MYR 18.1K

236.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$51.4 MYR 208

6.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$16.44 MYR 66.4

54.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$79.1 MYR 320

16.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$40.30 MYR 163

85.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$475 MYR 1,920

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$391 MYR 1,578

-27.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$770 MYR 3,112

15.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$547 MYR 2,209

-4.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,127 MYR 8,593

-6.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,183 MYR 4,780

23.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

$883 MYR 3,569

-32.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.06

37.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Sentul: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $475 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 49% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Sentul. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $227 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 3% more than Sentul, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,342 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 $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $165 in Sentul. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sentul, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Sentul 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. Sentul costs $894 versus $920 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.