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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 in Songkhla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,277 in Songkhla, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,743 in Songkhla, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Songkhla, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Songkhla are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Songkhla 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.65 ฿53.9

17.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$18.35 ฿600

1.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$3.36 ฿110

132.74%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$1.46 ฿47.74

33.56%

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

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.68 ฿22.38

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.35 ฿11.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

$2.20 ฿71.8

-3.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.42 ฿112

9.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.58 ฿51.8

8.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.89 ฿29.02

83.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$2.12 ฿69.3

-46.23%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.63 ฿53.2

18.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$16.33 ฿534

-0.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.70 ฿88.2

15.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$10.46 ฿342

4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.52 ฿82.3

9.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$1.81 ฿59.2

-33.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.25 ฿40.81

29.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$1.30 ฿42.45

22.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$1.57 ฿51.3

-10.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$1.77 ฿57.9

-33.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$1.51 ฿49.20

-56.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.91 ฿29.79

-41.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$4.41 ฿144

6.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

$13.62 ฿445

37.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.60 ฿52.4

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.69 ฿153

-31.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.88 ฿28.64

2.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$61.8 ฿2,019

-68.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$1.27 ฿41.40

11.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.75 ฿24.49

72.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.27 ฿303

-15.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.35 ฿44.01

-5.93%

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

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$28.2K ฿921.5K

-24.52%

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

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$36.5K ฿1.2M

-39.11%

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

$69.1 ฿2,258

$89.4 ฿2,921

-22.71%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.76 ฿417

10.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$18.48 ฿604

-2.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$49.83 ฿1,629

-17.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$1.81 ฿59.1

284.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$5.43 ฿178

9.02%

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

$299 ฿9,775

$123 ฿4,033

142.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$9,497 ฿310.5K

57.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$31.34 ฿1,025

74.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$34.98 ฿1,144

-23.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$99.4 ฿3,249

-14.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$21.75 ฿711

224.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$277 ฿9,041

54.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$180 ฿5,894

31.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$594 ฿19.4K

34.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$426 ฿13.9K

20.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,766 ฿57.7K

11.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,319 ฿43.1K

11.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$829 ฿27.1K

-25.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.33

-46.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Songkhla: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $277 in Songkhla. 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 34% higher in Songkhla, 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 $18.00 in Songkhla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $238 – making Songkhla 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 Songkhla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Songkhla, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,217 in Songkhla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $123 in Songkhla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $812 in Songkhla, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Songkhla costs $812 versus $866 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 Songkhla. 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.