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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,686 in Southampton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $8,489 in Southampton, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $13.3K in Southampton, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 76% cheaper than Southampton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Southampton is 175% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$59.1 BMD 59.1

-96.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$177 BMD 177

-89.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$14.88 BMD 14.88

-47.45%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$6.47 BMD 6.47

-69.86%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$3.33 BMD 3.33

-74.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$2.94 BMD 2.94

-88.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$9.90 BMD 9.90

-78.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$8.40 BMD 8.40

-55.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$4.34 BMD 4.34

-60.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$8.63 BMD 8.63

-81.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-79.01%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.65 BMD 7.65

-74.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$11.48 BMD 11.48

41.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$24.02 BMD 24.02

-87.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$32.59 BMD 32.59

-66.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$10.18 BMD 10.18

-72.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$6.43 BMD 6.43

-81.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$12.66 BMD 12.66

-87.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$11.41 BMD 11.41

-86.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$8.31 BMD 8.31

-83.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$5.16 BMD 5.16

-77.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$6.15 BMD 6.15

-89.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$3.21 BMD 3.21

-83.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$17.76 BMD 17.76

-73.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$25.42 BMD 25.42

-26.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-66.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$4.39 BMD 4.39

-26.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$6.40 BMD 6.40

-77.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$53.8 BMD 53.8

-85.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$2.01 BMD 2.01

-36.82%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$34.3K BMD 34.3K

-37.98%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

-42.21%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$232 BMD 232

-70.24%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$120 BMD 120

-88.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$157 BMD 157

-88.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$13.51 BMD 13.51

-56.18%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$1,342 BMD 1,342

-77.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

-38.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$78.5 BMD 78.5

-30.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$60.8 BMD 60.8

-55.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$139 BMD 139

-38.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$126 BMD 126

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$1,518 BMD 1,518

-84.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$7,968 BMD 7,968

-93.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$9,756 BMD 9,756

-93.67%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Southampton: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1480% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $177 in Southampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $817 – 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 325% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,530 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $177 in Southampton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 231% 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 $866, than in Southampton at $3,686. 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 $866 versus $3,686 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.