Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ta'izz Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ta'izz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Ta'izz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,517 in Ta'izz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,182 in Ta'izz, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Ta'izz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ta'izz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Ta'izz 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$11.49 YER 2,719

-82.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$30.71 YER 7,270

-40.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 YER 962

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 YER 1,175

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$6.18 YER 1,462

-67.31%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$1.47 YER 347

-42.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.99 YER 233

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$3.32 YER 786

-50.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.60 YER 378

-1.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$8.31 YER 1,966

-85.68%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$7.32 YER 1,733

-73.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$41.07 YER 9,721

-73.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$12.40 YER 2,934

-78.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$4.03 YER 954

-70.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$10.24 YER 2,424

-83.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$4.06 YER 960

-60.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$4.80 YER 1,136

-71.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$4.08 YER 965

-70.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$1.86 YER 441

-69.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 YER 781

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$0.85 YER 200

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$5.02 YER 1,189

-75.70%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$82.2 YER 19.4K

-13.97%

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$20.16 YER 4,771

-13.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$34.23 YER 8,102

801.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$617 YER 146.1K

2309.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$81.3 YER 19.2K

-31.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$126 YER 29.7K

-79.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$41.79 YER 9,891

98.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$41.39 YER 9,795

70.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$366 YER 86.5K

124.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$207 YER 49.0K

147.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$258 YER 61.0K

124.70%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ta'izz: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 125% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $31.00 in Ta'izz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $427 – making Chiang Mai 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 Ta'izz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Ta'izz, 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,278 in Ta'izz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $31.00 in Ta'izz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 76% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $852 in Ta'izz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ta'izz costs $852 versus $861 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 Ta'izz. 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.