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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $989 in Suva, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,806 in Suva, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,623 in Suva, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 12% cheaper than Suva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Suva are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Suva 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$5.23 FJD 11.46

-62.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$43.87 FJD 96.2

-57.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.79 FJD 14.90

15.17%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$3.11 FJD 6.82

-37.30%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.49 FJD 3.26

-42.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.66 FJD 1.44

-46.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$3.06 FJD 6.71

-30.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$3.61 FJD 7.92

3.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.29 FJD 2.84

32.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.49 FJD 1.07

232.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.19 FJD 2.61

-4.20%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.34 FJD 7.32

-42.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.39 FJD 20.59

72.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$7.35 FJD 16.12

-57.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.50 FJD 16.44

45.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.47 FJD 5.41

11.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$2.42 FJD 5.31

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$3.41 FJD 7.49

-52.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$3.16 FJD 6.93

-49.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.53 FJD 3.34

-8.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.18 FJD 2.59

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.18 FJD 2.59

-44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.74 FJD 1.63

-28.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$9.73 FJD 21.34

-51.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$7.66 FJD 16.81

143.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$2.23 FJD 4.89

-19.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$3.45 FJD 7.57

-6.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.87 FJD 1.90

3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$21.82 FJD 47.85

-11.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.86 FJD 1.88

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$0.44 FJD 0.97

193.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.88 FJD 19.47

-11.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.34 FJD 2.94

-5.22%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$24.4K FJD 53.4K

-12.65%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$24.9K FJD 54.6K

-10.82%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$45.88 FJD 101

50.54%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$12.94 FJD 28.37

8.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$24.25 FJD 53.2

-25.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.82 FJD 65.4

37.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$6.95 FJD 15.24

0.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.40 FJD 9.65

34.55%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$225 FJD 493

33.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$14.0K FJD 30.8K

6.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$26.11 FJD 57.3

109.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$26.95 FJD 59.1

-0.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$69.8 FJD 153

21.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$61.7 FJD 135

14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$582 FJD 1,277

-26.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$390 FJD 855

-39.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$2,039 FJD 4,471

-60.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$1,208 FJD 2,649

-57.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,369 FJD 3,003

44.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$852 FJD 1,868

73.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$988 FJD 2,168

-37.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

-35.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Suva: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $582 in Suva. 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 60% higher in Suva, 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 $44.00 in Suva. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $234 in Suva – so Suva 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 Suva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Suva costs about 14% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,483 in Suva. 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $225 in Suva. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Suva – 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 $866, than in Suva at $989. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Suva it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $989 in Suva. 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, Suva makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.