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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 2.2% more expensive than Soweto without rent, and 14.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 5.6% cheaper than Soweto without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿62.8

$8.21 R 146

-76.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.36 ฿594

$32.97 R 586

-44.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 ฿252

$4.67 R 83

66.60%

Cappuccino

$1.96 ฿63.3

$2.11 R 37.51

-7.11%

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

$0.83 ฿27.01

$1.03 R 18.31

-19.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$0.81 R 14.41

-56.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.1 ฿67.9

$2.26 R 40.24

-7.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿121

$2.86 R 50.9

31.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ฿54.8

$1.15 R 20.39

46.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$1.05 R 18.72

55.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.2 ฿38.83

$1.61 R 28.68

-25.47%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.5

$2.5 R 44.47

-20.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.97 ฿517

$7.69 R 137

107.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 ฿102

$4.44 R 78.9

-29.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿354

$6.48 R 115

68.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿86.6

$1.62 R 28.8

65.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.97

$1.53 R 27.13

-23.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿52.6

$1.54 R 27.31

5.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.78

$1.66 R 29.59

-7.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.23

$1.31 R 23.23

2.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.78

$1.21 R 21.46

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.52

$1.04 R 18.5

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.09

$0.95 R 16.84

-41.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.57 ฿148

$2.88 R 51.1

58.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿596

$5.19 R 92.3

254.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$1.35 R 24.08

32.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 ฿106

$1.66 R 29.57

96.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿31.19

$1.68 R 29.88

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.98 ฿614

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.78

$1.09 R 19.36

23.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.3 ฿42.14

$0.91 R 16.14

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 ฿267

$3.11 R 55.3

164.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.97

$1.27 R 22.57

-2.36%

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

$21.6K ฿699.5K

$19.4K R 345.1K

11.39%

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

$21.8K ฿706.1K

$24.2K R 429.8K

-9.70%

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

$70.2 ฿2,272

$116 R 2,063

-39.48%

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

$14.18 ฿459

$37.79 R 672

-62.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.88 ฿579

$38.83 R 690

-53.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.29 ฿1,369

$30.85 R 549

37.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.73 ฿218

Cinema Ticket

$5.7 ฿185

$7.42 R 132

-23.18%

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

$308 ฿9,969

$197 R 3,501

56.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿487.6K

$4,358 R 77.5K

245.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 ฿1,822

$50.7 R 902

10.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.3 ฿851

$32.72 R 582

-19.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.7 ฿2,742

$88.3 R 1,571

-4.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,336

$79.1 R 1,406

-8.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14.1K

$357 R 6,356

21.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ฿7,854

$329 R 5,846

-26.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ฿26.1K

$674 R 12K

19.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 ฿16.2K

$684 R 12.2K

-27.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,195 ฿71K

$707 R 12.6K

210.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,560 ฿50.5K

$619 R 11K

152.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$683 ฿22.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.51

-56.56%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 3, 2025

Last update for Soweto: November 4, 2025

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