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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,233 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,648 in Sucre, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$1.83 BOB 12.53

7.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

$14.15 BOB 96.9

29.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

$5.75 BOB 39.37

36.87%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$2.48 BOB 16.98

-21.37%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.62 BOB 4.23

37.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.55 BOB 3.80

-41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$1.38 BOB 9.47

55.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$2.13 BOB 14.60

72.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$0.91 BOB 6.25

82.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$1.41 BOB 9.65

10.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$1.20 BOB 8.21

-0.83%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$1.77 BOB 12.10

12.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

$4.37 BOB 29.93

271.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$3.07 BOB 21.01

3.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

$4.47 BOB 30.65

142.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.83 BOB 12.53

44.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

$0.90 BOB 6.17

35.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

$0.70 BOB 4.79

135.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$2.81 BOB 19.26

-44.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$0.42 BOB 2.88

216.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$0.76 BOB 5.18

59.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

$0.30 BOB 2.07

126.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.98 BOB 6.74

-41.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

$1.86 BOB 12.74

151.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

$10.25 BOB 70.2

65.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.69 BOB 11.57

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

$0.28 BOB 1.90

225.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

$22.90 BOB 157

-18.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

$0.74 BOB 5.09

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

$1.02 BOB 7.01

25.49%

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

$14.3K BOB 97.7K

52.95%

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

$17.6K BOB 120.4K

27.47%

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

$14.08 BOB 96.5

400.57%

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

$14.05 ฿457

$20.90 BOB 143

-32.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

$26.11 BOB 179

-32.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

$23.49 BOB 161

75.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

$11.53 BOB 79.0

-41.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

$6.58 BOB 45.07

-9.42%

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

$35.92 BOB 246

52.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

$72.4 BOB 496

18.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

$64.0 BOB 438

8.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

$650 BOB 4,454

-34.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

$374 BOB 2,563

-36.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

$1,076 BOB 7,368

-24.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

$692 BOB 4,737

-26.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

$852 BOB 5,838

137.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

$568 BOB 3,891

164.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

$326 BOB 2,234

90.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Sucre: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $650 in Sucre. 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 91% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $153 – making Sucre 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 Sucre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Sucre, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,227 in Sucre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 22% less in Sucre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 58% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Chiang Mai at $848. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sucre costs $818 versus $848 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 Sucre. 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.