Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Snellville, GA

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $2,488 in Snellville, GA, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Snellville, GA, United States
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$936
/mo nomad
Snellville, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,488
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Snellville, GA

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 Snellville, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,488 in Snellville, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $936
  • Snellville, GA $2,488

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,429 in Snellville, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,457
  • Snellville, GA $3,429

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,370 in Snellville, GA, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,979
  • Snellville, GA $4,370

Chiang Mai is about 62% cheaper than Snellville, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Snellville, GA is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 ฿75.6
$14.25 $14.25
-84.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00 ฿641
$57.1 $57.1
-66.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 ฿187
$9.41 $9.41
-41.02%
Cappuccino
$1.67 ฿56.5
$5.62 $5.62
-70.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.53
$2.86 $2.86
-77.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.30
$2.17 $2.17
-85.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.5
$7.48 $7.48
-68.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿124
$5.96 $5.96
-38.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.7
$0.88 $0.88
121.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿48.45
$2.58 $2.58
-44.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿45.01
$5.73 $5.73
-76.79%
Eggs
$2.28 ฿77.0
$3.22 $3.22
-29.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 ฿555
$11.06 $11.06
48.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.78 ฿93.8
$10.70 $10.70
-74.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.31 ฿314
$15.59 $15.59
-40.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ฿79.4
$5.93 $5.93
-60.37%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.78
$1.34 $1.34
-27.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$6.10 $6.10
-73.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$4.06 $4.06
-63.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿43.10
$4.05 $4.05
-68.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.17
$4.22 $4.22
-73.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿23.81
$2.51 $2.51
-71.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.36
$1.97 $1.97
-75.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14 ฿140
$8.72 $8.72
-52.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.52 ฿591
$14.85 $14.85
17.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 ฿54.5
$1.71 $1.71
-5.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿93.9
$5.92 $5.92
-53.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$1.93 $1.93
-54.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 ฿1,825
$56.6 $56.6
-4.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 ฿39.03
$4.54 $4.54
-74.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 ฿17.79
$1.58 $1.58
-66.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 ฿81.7
$27.78 $27.78
-91.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.87
$0.90 $0.90
61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K ฿710.3K
$15.7K $15.7K
34.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿908.7K
$26.5K $26.5K
1.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.2 ฿2,097
$139 $139
-55.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.17 ฿410
$57.7 $57.7
-78.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.12 ฿679
$92.1 $92.1
-78.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.31 ฿1,259
$45.00 $45.00
-17.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿127
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ฿219
$12.77 $12.77
-49.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.8K
$882 $882
-16.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿498.0K
$9,453 $9,453
56.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 ฿1,800
$35.93 $35.93
48.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ฿831
$29.95 $29.95
-17.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 ฿3,086
$66.5 $66.5
37.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9 ฿2,426
$40.76 $40.76
76.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.3K
$1,555 $1,555
-68.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$1,305 $1,305
-76.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 ฿33.9K
$2,535 $2,535
-60.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ฿21.4K
$1,820 $1,820
-65.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,363 ฿79.7K
$3,085 $3,085
-23.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 ฿53.6K
$2,557 $2,557
-37.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Snellville, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.72
-17.11%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Snellville, GA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$309
Snellville, GA
$1.3K 322% $996
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$234
Snellville, GA
$391 66.6% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$109
Snellville, GA
$78 28.3% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Snellville, GA
$289 206% $195
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$78
Snellville, GA
$279 260% $201
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Snellville, GA
$77 25% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Snellville, GA
$71 40.3% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $1,555 in Snellville, GA. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $57 in Snellville, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $391 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇺🇸 Snellville, GA
🕒 Local time
23:51 11:51 PM
11:51 11:51 AM
12 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
19,738
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Snellville, GA 14,150 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Snellville, GA

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 Snellville, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Snellville, GA?
Snellville, GA costs about 166% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Snellville, GA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,732 in Snellville, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Snellville, GA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,555 in Snellville, GA.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Snellville, GA?
Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $882 in Snellville, GA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Snellville, GA?
Groceries cost about 67% more in Snellville, GA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Snellville, GA?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $2,488 in Snellville, GA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 62% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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?