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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,667 in Southampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $8,441 in Southampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $13.2K in Southampton, rent included.

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

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Southampton is 175% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$59.9 BMD 59.9

-96.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$183 BMD 183

-89.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$15.08 BMD 15.08

-50.40%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$6.50 BMD 6.50

-68.92%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$3.46 BMD 3.46

-75.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$2.86 BMD 2.86

-87.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$9.83 BMD 9.83

-78.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$8.37 BMD 8.37

-57.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$4.53 BMD 4.53

-63.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$8.99 BMD 8.99

-82.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$5.33 BMD 5.33

-77.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$7.68 BMD 7.68

-74.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$11.49 BMD 11.49

40.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$24.31 BMD 24.31

-87.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$32.34 BMD 32.34

-66.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$10.52 BMD 10.52

-74.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$6.24 BMD 6.24

-81.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$12.56 BMD 12.56

-86.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$11.44 BMD 11.44

-86.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$8.58 BMD 8.58

-83.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$4.93 BMD 4.93

-75.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$6.17 BMD 6.17

-89.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$3.15 BMD 3.15

-82.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$17.54 BMD 17.54

-73.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$25.04 BMD 25.04

-29.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-65.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$4.37 BMD 4.37

-24.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$6.24 BMD 6.24

-78.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$53.3 BMD 53.3

-84.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$2.05 BMD 2.05

-40.49%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

-39.91%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

-41.32%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$237 BMD 237

-70.18%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$119 BMD 119

-88.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$158 BMD 158

-88.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$13.34 BMD 13.34

-55.62%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$1,335 BMD 1,335

-76.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

-40.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$78.5 BMD 78.5

-28.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$59.9 BMD 59.9

-56.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$138 BMD 138

-39.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$129 BMD 129

-45.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$1,475 BMD 1,475

-83.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$8,022 BMD 8,022

-93.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$9,656 BMD 9,656

-94.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

-30.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Southampton: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1567% higher in Southampton, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $183 in Southampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $822 – 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 Southampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Southampton costs about 326% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,501 in Southampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $183 in Southampton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 238% more in Southampton, 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 $861, than in Southampton at $3,667. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $3,667 in Southampton. 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, Southampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.