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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $816 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,232 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,649 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 ฿64.0

$1.78 BOB 12.35

10.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$14.44 BOB 99.9

30.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.86 BOB 40.56

35.15%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.40 BOB 16.62

-20.42%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.61 BOB 4.25

37.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.56 BOB 3.89

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.38 BOB 9.54

60.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.15 BOB 14.90

76.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.90 BOB 6.20

82.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.43 BOB 9.91

13.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.20 BOB 8.32

-1.67%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.68 BOB 11.64

19.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$4.48 BOB 30.99

254.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$3.04 BOB 21.06

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$4.22 BOB 29.22

155.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.82 BOB 12.56

43.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$0.89 BOB 6.16

37.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.70 BOB 4.87

142.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.89 BOB 20.02

-45.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.45 BOB 3.10

193.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.74 BOB 5.13

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.30 BOB 2.11

123.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.99 BOB 6.86

-43.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$1.92 BOB 13.28

135.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$10.32 BOB 71.4

76.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.75 BOB 12.08

4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.28 BOB 1.91

217.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$22.93 BOB 159

-15.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.70 BOB 4.86

92.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.01 BOB 7.01

25.74%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$14.7K BOB 101.4K

44.38%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$17.7K BOB 122.1K

27.39%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$14.40 BOB 99.7

387.15%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$20.91 BOB 145

-34.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$25.67 BOB 178

-31.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$22.81 BOB 158

82.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$11.45 BOB 79.3

-42.36%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.37 BOB 44.09

-9.26%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$36.08 BOB 250

50.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$70.8 BOB 490

19.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$65.4 BOB 452

6.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$638 BOB 4,413

-33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$379 BOB 2,625

-37.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,066 BOB 7,375

-22.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$679 BOB 4,695

-24.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$876 BOB 6,062

133.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$588 BOB 4,066

159.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$365 BOB 2,528

73.87%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sucre: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $638 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 74% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $14.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,224 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 18% less in Sucre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 59% 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 $816, than in Chiang Mai at $852. 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 $816 versus $852 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.