Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sivas

For one person, living costs are similar in Chiang Mai and in Sivas: $935 and $958 a month, rent and utilities included.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Sivas, Turkey
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Sivas
🇹🇷 Turkey
$958
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Sivas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Sivas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $958 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Sivas $958

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,430 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Sivas $1,430

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,902 in Sivas, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Sivas $1,902

Chiang Mai and Sivas have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chiang Mai and Sivas are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sivas 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿72.0
$9.91 ₺496
-78.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿628
$59.9 ₺2,997
-68.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿189
$10.38 ₺519
-46.05%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿56.1
$4.07 ₺204
-59.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.83
$0.82 ₺40.85
-20.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.29
$0.31 ₺15.62
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿78.4
$1.82 ₺91.0
27.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿124
$2.04 ₺102
79.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿68.0
$0.89 ₺44.64
126.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.51
$0.78 ₺38.96
80.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.96
$2.43 ₺121
-42.80%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.9
$2.46 ₺123
-3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿557
$8.16 ₺408
102.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿90.1
$2.72 ₺136
-1.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿304
$19.26 ₺963
-53.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.9
$2.05 ₺103
17.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿35.13
$1.57 ₺78.7
-33.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$0.84 ₺41.76
97.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.6
$1.03 ₺51.7
51.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.76
$0.42 ₺20.91
195.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.66
$0.27 ₺13.32
303.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.70
$0.74 ₺37.18
2.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.35
$0.63 ₺31.48
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿139
$2.06 ₺103
100.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿605
$8.96 ₺448
100.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.8
$1.58 ₺78.8
2.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿95.2
$2.21 ₺110
27.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.53
$0.52 ₺26.00
78.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,785
$15.10 ₺755
250.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.70
$2.05 ₺102
-42.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.79
$0.62 ₺31.07
-72.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿61.1
$6.32 ₺316
-71.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.69
$1.34 ₺66.9
9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿708.9K
$39.8K ₺2.0M
-47.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿894.6K
$40.4K ₺2.0M
-34.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,111
$87.7 ₺4,385
-28.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿392
$12.27 ₺614
-5.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿685
$12.27 ₺613
65.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,278
$29.88 ₺1,494
26.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿125
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿220
$3.94 ₺197
65.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.5K
$255 ₺12.7K
185.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿559.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,807
$29.87 ₺1,493
79.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿837
$60.4 ₺3,019
-58.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,050
$81.1 ₺4,052
11.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,428
$60.5 ₺3,023
19.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.2K
$448 ₺22.4K
7.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.5K
$302 ₺15.1K
2.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.7K
$491 ₺24.5K
115.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.2K
$295 ₺14.8K
122.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿81.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿54.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿20.1K
$866 ₺43.3K
-31.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
36
-84.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Sivas: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Sivas
$302 2.6% $8.1
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Sivas
$203 14.2% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Sivas
$104 3.7% $4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Sivas
$112 18.8% $18
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Sivas
$177 131% $100
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Sivas
$22 61.9% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Sivas
$38 25.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $448 in Sivas. 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 46% higher in Sivas. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $60 in Sivas. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $203 in Sivas – so Sivas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇷 Sivas
🕒 Local time
08:48 8:48 AM
04:48 4:48 AM
4 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
621,224
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 49.99 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 55.91 TRY (100 TRY = 1.79 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Sivas 6,310 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Sivas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Sivas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,438 in Sivas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chiang Mai compared to Sivas?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $481 in Chiang Mai and $448 in Sivas. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Sivas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $60 in Sivas. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Chiang Mai compared to Sivas?
Public transport costs about 71% less in Sivas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Sivas?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $958 in Sivas. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Sivas?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $958 in Sivas. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Sivas?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Sivas?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sivas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?