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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $838 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,404 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,970 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Spanish Town 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.30 JMD 1,149

-72.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$61.6 JMD 9,679

-69.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.52 JMD 1,340

-9.04%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$4.44 JMD 699

-56.76%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.33 JMD 208

-40.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.76 JMD 120

-52.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.57 JMD 404

-14.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.18 JMD 500

15.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.90 JMD 299

-13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$2.58 JMD 405

-36.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.42 JMD 66.3

183.33%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.22 JMD 507

-37.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$3.14 JMD 494

408.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$1.98 JMD 311

53.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$2.80 JMD 440

287.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.21 JMD 347

24.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.85 JMD 291

-36.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.60 JMD 252

2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.83 JMD 287

-16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.11 JMD 332

-34.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.93 JMD 304

-38.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.97 JMD 468

-76.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.92 JMD 144

-39.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$8.76 JMD 1,377

-47.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$11.40 JMD 1,793

45.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.55 JMD 243

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.47 JMD 389

29.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.13 JMD 178

20.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$3.24 JMD 509

-58.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.33 JMD 995

23.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.28 JMD 201

-3.91%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

-48.81%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-33.79%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$162 JMD 25.5K

-56.45%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$21.92 JMD 3,448

-37.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$50.8 JMD 7,982

-65.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$13.21 JMD 2,078

-56.32%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$226 JMD 35.6K

35.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,483 JMD 390.4K

488.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$26.33 JMD 4,141

111.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.43 JMD 4,000

3.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

18.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

-6.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$156 JMD 24.5K

176.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$123 JMD 19.4K

93.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$616 JMD 97.0K

32.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$376 JMD 59.1K

35.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$1,160 JMD 182.5K

-46.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

-45.36%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $156 in Spanish Town. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 88% higher in Spanish Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $62.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $193 in Spanish Town – so Spanish Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Spanish Town, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,257 in Spanish Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spanish Town, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $62.0 in Spanish Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $838 in Spanish Town, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Spanish Town costs $838 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. 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 Spanish Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.