Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Southern Cross Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Southern Cross

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 40.6% cheaper than Southern Cross without rent, and 60.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 42.8% cheaper than Southern Cross without rent, and 56.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$18.16 A$27.82
-88.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$57.8 A$88.6
-67.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.92 A$15.19
-22.68%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.18 A$4.88
-37.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.23 A$3.42
-63.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.65 A$2.53
-80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.52 A$9.98
-67.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$7.59 A$11.63
-50.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.47 A$2.25
11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.32 A$3.56
-32.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.03 A$3.11
-41.38%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.64 A$4.05
-25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.55 A$13.1
87.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.59 A$13.16
-63.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.43 A$20.57
-16.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.28 A$5.02
-15.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.83 A$4.33
-56.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.88 A$4.41
-40.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.09 A$6.27
-62.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.42 A$3.71
-44.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.15 A$3.3
-43.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.11 A$3.23
-65.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.58 A$2.42
-66.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$33.03 A$50.6
-85.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.03 A$19.96
41.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$4.48 A$6.87
-60.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$5.41 A$8.29
-40.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.56 A$3.92
-63.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$64.1 A$98.2
-70.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.63 A$5.55
-60.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.54 A$2.36
-12.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$33.7 A$51.6
-76.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.18 A$1.81
5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$28.6K A$43.8K
-25.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.4K A$34.3K
-2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$180 A$276
-60.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$27.49 A$42.12
-50.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$53.5 A$82
-67.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$47.95 A$73.5
-13.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$15.82 A$24.24
-56.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$12.85 A$19.69
-54.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,630 A$2,497
-81.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.2K A$18.8K
20.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$68 A$104
-18.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$51.5 A$78.9
-48.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$101 A$155
-15.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$108 A$165
-33.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,265 A$1,938
-65.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,059 A$1,622
-77.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$1,989 A$3,048
-58.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,670 A$2,558
-70.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$6,010 A$9,208
-63.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$5,301 A$8,122
-70.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Southern Cross
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$6,672 A$10.2K
-89.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.25
-20.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Southern Cross: October 29, 2025

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