Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surfers Paradise Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Surfers Paradise

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 46.2% cheaper than Surfers Paradise without rent, and 54.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 52.5% cheaper than Surfers Paradise without rent, and 57.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$15.97 A$24.46
-87.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$94.1 A$144
-80.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.69 A$14.84
-20.85%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.55 A$5.44
-44.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.67 A$4.09
-69.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.23 A$3.42
-85.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.62 A$10.14
-67.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$8.01 A$12.27
-53.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.61 A$2.46
1.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.2 A$3.37
-28.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.26 A$3.46
-47.35%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4.32 A$6.61
-54.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$8.19 A$12.55
95.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.25 A$12.63
-62.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.52 A$20.71
-17.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.49 A$5.34
-20.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.69 A$4.13
-54.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.5 A$5.36
-51.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.95 A$6.05
-60.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.5 A$3.83
-46.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.42 A$3.71
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.22 A$3.4
-67.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.26 A$1.92
-57.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$32.01 A$49.04
-85.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$13.36 A$20.47
37.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$6.17 A$9.46
-70.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$4.22 A$6.47
-23.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.06 A$3.16
-54.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$32.11 A$49.19
-41.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.07 A$3.17
-31.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.39 A$2.14
-2.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$33.31 A$51
-76.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.19 A$1.82
5.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$29.5K A$45.1K
-28.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$22.3K A$34.1K
-1.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$210 A$322
-66.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$31.1 A$47.64
-55.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$53 A$81.1
-66.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$61.8 A$94.7
-32.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$13.56 A$20.78
-49.12%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$13.16 A$20.16
-55.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,639 A$2,511
-81.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$8,901 A$13.6K
65.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$70.8 A$109
-21.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$48.77 A$74.7
-45.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$94.5 A$145
-9.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$102 A$156
-29.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,278 A$1,958
-66.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$716 A$1,097
-67.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,443 A$3,743
-66.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,771 A$2,713
-71.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,561 A$8,520
-60.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$4,704 A$7,206
-67.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Surfers Paradise
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$3,095 A$4,742
-77.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.3
-20.63%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Surfers Paradise: October 28, 2025

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