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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $852 in Ta'izz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,507 in Ta'izz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,161 in Ta'izz, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Ta'izz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Ta'izz are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Ta'izz 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$11.50 YER 2,741

-83.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$30.27 YER 7,214

-38.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 YER 1,005

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.82 YER 1,149

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$5.98 YER 1,425

-67.39%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.49 YER 355

-42.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.99 YER 237

-64.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$3.35 YER 798

-48.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.57 YER 374

3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$8.11 YER 1,932

-85.94%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$7.35 YER 1,752

-73.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$41.44 YER 9,874

-73.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$12.31 YER 2,934

-77.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$4.22 YER 1,006

-71.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$10.32 YER 2,460

-84.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.19 YER 999

-62.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$5.04 YER 1,201

-72.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$4.12 YER 982

-71.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.87 YER 445

-71.66%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.39 YER 808

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$0.80 YER 191

76.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$4.83 YER 1,151

-73.71%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$81.0 YER 19.3K

-14.74%

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

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$20.75 YER 4,945

-13.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

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

$299 ฿9,766

$33.91 YER 8,080

781.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$625 YER 148.9K

2292.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$83.1 YER 19.8K

-34.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$125 YER 29.8K

-78.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$41.16 YER 9,809

106.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$40.51 YER 9,655

74.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$373 YER 88.9K

114.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$202 YER 48.2K

154.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$253 YER 60.3K

144.03%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ta'izz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 144% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Ta'izz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $430 – 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 2% 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 $1,300 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $30.00 in Ta'izz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 75% 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 $866 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 $866 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.