Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,050 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,982 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,913 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 10% cheaper than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Spanish Town 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$16.10 JMD 2,528

-86.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

-73.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$8.94 JMD 1,404

-35.23%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$5.21 JMD 818

-64.88%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.20 JMD 188

-35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.73 JMD 114

-57.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$2.24 JMD 352

4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.07 JMD 483

20.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$4.03 JMD 632

-49.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$3.70 JMD 581

-56.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.59 JMD 250

-10.69%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.64 JMD 571

-40.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$11.62 JMD 1,825

36.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$6.31 JMD 990

-51.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$10.16 JMD 1,596

-2.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$5.94 JMD 934

-55.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$3.86 JMD 606

-71.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$7.36 JMD 1,156

-77.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$3.14 JMD 493

-51.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$3.29 JMD 517

-62.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.12 JMD 334

-46.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$3.00 JMD 472

-75.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.50 JMD 236

-66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$9.26 JMD 1,454

-53.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$11.53 JMD 1,812

55.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.84 JMD 445

-40.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$4.04 JMD 635

-28.22%

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

$1.22 JMD 191

0.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$3.19 JMD 500

-83.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$6.49 JMD 1,019

-63.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.35 JMD 212

6.67%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

-52.28%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$33.2K JMD 5.2M

-17.79%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$172 JMD 27.1K

-62.30%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$29.62 JMD 4,652

-54.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$52.0 JMD 8,168

-59.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$13.19 JMD 2,072

-49.13%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$367 JMD 57.7K

114.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$8,158 JMD 1.3M

85.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$23.87 JMD 3,750

135.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$31.43 JMD 4,938

-20.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$78.1 JMD 12.3K

18.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$103 JMD 16.2K

-27.01%

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

$630 JMD 99.0K

44.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$515 JMD 80.9K

2.99%

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

$1,148 JMD 180.3K

-47.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

9.45

-41.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 90% higher in Spanish Town, 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 $75.0 in Spanish Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $383 – 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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spanish Town costs about 11% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,576 in Spanish Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $75.0 in Spanish Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Spanish Town, 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 $950, than in Spanish Town at $1,050. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Spanish Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,050 in Spanish Town. 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, Spanish Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.