Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Simpson Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Simpson Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,727 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $6,371 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $9,016 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 77% cheaper than Simpson Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Simpson Bay is 178% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$21.68 ANG 38.70

-91.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$137 ANG 245

-86.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.96 ANG 5.29

-34.12%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$2.93 ANG 5.23

-70.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$3.03 ANG 5.41

-88.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$5.60 ANG 9.99

-61.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.92 ANG 7.00

-4.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.51 ANG 8.05

-62.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.46 ANG 4.39

-33.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$2.60 ANG 4.65

-56.15%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$4.17 ANG 7.44

-53.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$18.68 ANG 33.34

-13.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$13.97 ANG 24.94

-77.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$15.13 ANG 27.01

-27.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.74 ANG 6.67

-26.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.86 ANG 5.10

-57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$5.23 ANG 9.33

-69.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.92 ANG 7.01

-59.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$3.01 ANG 5.38

-53.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.95 ANG 3.49

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$2.99 ANG 5.33

-77.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.42 ANG 2.53

-62.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$15.20 ANG 27.14

22.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.97 ANG 1.74

85.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.54 ANG 2.76

109.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$2.16 ANG 3.86

-58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$10.06 ANG 17.95

-85.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.46 ANG 2.60

-13.01%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$503 ANG 898

-86.26%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$35.37 ANG 63.1

-60.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$85.9 ANG 153

-79.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$8.49 ANG 15.15

-30.27%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$1,019 ANG 1,818

-70.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$12.3K ANG 21.9K

21.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$79.0 ANG 141

7.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$2,279 ANG 4,068

-81.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$2,336 ANG 4,170

-89.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$6,559 ANG 11.7K

-87.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$5,796 ANG 10.3K

-91.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $2,279 in Simpson Bay. 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 $137 in Simpson Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $425 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Simpson Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Simpson Bay costs about 330% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,590 in Simpson Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $137 in Simpson Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 72% more in Simpson Bay, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Simpson Bay at $3,727. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simpson Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $3,727 in Simpson Bay. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.