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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $400 in Soroca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $653 in Soroca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $905 in Soroca, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Soroca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Soroca are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Soroca 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$11.40 MDL 196

-81.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$23.28 MDL 399

-14.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$4.76 MDL 81.7

21.64%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.49 MDL 25.57

22.82%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.72 MDL 12.31

8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.48 MDL 8.17

-35.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.14 MDL 19.60

105.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.47 MDL 25.14

151.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$1.06 MDL 18.18

91.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.37 MDL 6.29

332.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.19 MDL 20.43

19.33%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.03 MDL 34.76

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$2.05 MDL 35.13

-46.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.64 MDL 10.98

93.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.54 MDL 9.19

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.18 MDL 20.28

4.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.63 MDL 28.00

-11.66%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$20.8K MDL 357.8K

30.96%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$62.0 MDL 1,063

4.79%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$8.68 MDL 149

53.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$13.53 MDL 232

53.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$28.71 MDL 493

40.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$3.40 MDL 58.3

97.35%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$34.45 MDL 591

63.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$34.57 MDL 593

-27.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$109 MDL 1,863

-14.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$34.91 MDL 599

115.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$514 MDL 8,825

17.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Soroca: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 18% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Soroca. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $48.00 in Soroca – so Soroca 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 Soroca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 138% more than Soroca, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $600 in Soroca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Chiang Mai and $400 in Soroca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 407% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Soroca, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Soroca 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. Soroca costs $400 versus $950 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 Soroca. 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.