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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,103 in Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,577 in Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,050 in Sur, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Sur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Sur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Sur 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿66.0

$3.95 OMR 1.52

-50.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿618

$25.63 OMR 9.87

-28.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.76 OMR 2.99

-3.61%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿68.0

$4.82 OMR 1.85

-58.09%

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

$0.85 ฿28.57

$0.72 OMR 0.28

18.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.99

$0.27 OMR 0.10

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿72.0

$12.51 OMR 4.82

-82.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$11.86 OMR 4.56

-69.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.6

$1.59 OMR 0.61

3.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.8

$1.23 OMR 0.47

27.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.12

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-28.74%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.2

$2.00 OMR 0.77

-3.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿546

$3.84 OMR 1.48

321.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$4.91 OMR 1.89

-39.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿369

$8.60 OMR 3.31

27.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.4

$2.36 OMR 0.91

14.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.34

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.9

$1.06 OMR 0.41

59.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.1

$0.81 OMR 0.31

97.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.65

$0.82 OMR 0.31

68.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.54

$0.50 OMR 0.19

140.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.55

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-37.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.77

$0.51 OMR 0.19

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$6.23 OMR 2.40

-25.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿594

$15.90 OMR 6.12

10.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$4.36 OMR 1.68

-57.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$8.01 OMR 3.08

-58.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.75

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿652

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿46.01

$3.16 OMR 1.21

-56.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.08

$0.76 OMR 0.29

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿277

$10.25 OMR 3.95

-19.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.28

$0.53 OMR 0.20

130.19%

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

$21.4K ฿719.8K

$22.5K OMR 8,655

-5.04%

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

$22.5K ฿759.5K

$21.8K OMR 8,409

3.12%

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

$70.7 ฿2,382

$79.0 OMR 30.40

-10.52%

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

$14.04 ฿473

$23.13 OMR 8.90

-39.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿590

$70.0 OMR 26.95

-75.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,421

$85.9 OMR 33.07

-50.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿200

$10.25 OMR 3.95

-42.24%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$192 OMR 73.8

60.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿501.5K

$6,388 OMR 2,459

132.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,880

$51.2 OMR 19.71

8.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿880

$39.04 OMR 15.03

-33.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,798

$78.4 OMR 30.18

5.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$87.7 OMR 33.74

-19.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.6K

$258 OMR 99.5

67.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,054

$265 OMR 102

-9.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$470 OMR 181

75.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.3K

$384 OMR 148

33.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.5K

$565 OMR 218

238.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.5K

$525 OMR 202

179.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$2,657 OMR 1,023

-78.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.15

-2.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $258 in Sur. 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 359% higher in Sur, 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 $26.00 in Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $216 in Sur – so Sur 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sur costs about 28% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,655 in Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $26.00 in Sur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Sur – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Sur at $1,103. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,103 in Sur. 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, Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.