Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surat Thani Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surat Thani

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 16.4% cheaper than Surat Thani without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 14.3% cheaper than Surat Thani without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$1.94 ฿62.8
4.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$18.36 ฿594
2.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$4.69 ฿152
63.54%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.53 ฿49.44
29.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.47 ฿15.16
74.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.32 ฿10.52
3.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$2.51 ฿81.3
-15.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$3.76 ฿122
-0.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.93 ฿62.4
-15.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.27 ฿41.17
23.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.09 ฿35.42
9.17%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.92 ฿62.1
3.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$19.66 ฿636
-18.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$3.77 ฿122
-17.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.76 ฿251
43.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.35 ฿109
-17.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.62 ฿52.5
-24.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.22 ฿71.7
-22.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.71 ฿55.4
-9.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$1.24 ฿40.15
8.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.49 ฿48.32
-18.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.97 ฿31.53
-25.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.45 ฿14.46
17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$3.17 ฿102
48.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$21.84 ฿707
-15.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.65 ฿53.4
8.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.75 ฿88.8
16.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.09 ฿35.35
-13.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$21.25 ฿688
-11.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.06 ฿34.17
33.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$0.67 ฿21.53
101.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$3.76 ฿122
108.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.24 ฿40.28
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$28.3K ฿914.7K
-25.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$33.8K ฿1.1M
-35.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$75.1 ฿2,429
-5.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$13.48 ฿436
1.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$18.31 ฿592
-4.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$49.82 ฿1,612
-16.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$12.3 ฿398
-43.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$4.69 ฿152
23.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$693 ฿22.4K
-55.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$15.8K ฿510.6K
-6.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$57.6 ฿1,863
-3.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$35.11 ฿1,136
-24.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$115 ฿3,711
-25.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$83.3 ฿2,697
-13.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$246 ฿7,959
76.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$152 ฿4,916
54.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$681 ฿22K
20.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$411 ฿13.3K
21.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,525 ฿81.7K
-13.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,874 ฿60.7K
-17.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Surat Thani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Surat Thani: October 29, 2025

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