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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 40.6% cheaper than Tamarindo without rent, and 52% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 49.7% cheaper than Tamarindo without rent, and 44.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$11.06 ₡5,535
-81.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$60.2 ₡30.1K
-68.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.7 ₡4,853
-20.93%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.87 ₡1,939
-48.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.04 ₡1,023
-59.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.65 ₡827
-80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$3 ₡1,504
-29.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$4.54 ₡2,271
-17.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$2.06 ₡1,030
-20.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.8 ₡1,400
-43.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$2.14 ₡1,072
-44.39%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3.01 ₡1,507
-34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$9.75 ₡4,880
64.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.86 ₡4,435
-64.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$13.81 ₡6,911
-19.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.56 ₡2,281
-39.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.44 ₡720
-15.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.2 ₡1,601
-46.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$3.47 ₡1,737
-55.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.41 ₡1,204
-44.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$3.02 ₡1,510
-59.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.04 ₡519
-30.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$2.87 ₡1,437
-81.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$4.81 ₡2,408
-1.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$11.98 ₡5,999
53.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.49 ₡1,245
-28.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.79 ₡1,396
15.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.92 ₡962
-51.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$55.3 ₡27.7K
-65.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.86 ₡931
-23.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.87 ₡936
-27.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$5.78 ₡2,895
35.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.45 ₡727
-13.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$35.5K ₡17.8M
-40.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$33K ₡16.5M
-33.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$94.4 ₡47.2K
-25.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$22.16 ₡11.1K
-38.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$51.7 ₡25.9K
-66.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$97.3 ₡48.7K
-57.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$23.79 ₡11.9K
-71.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$7.16 ₡3,583
-18.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$516 ₡258.3K
-40.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$8,801 ₡4.4M
67.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$62.1 ₡31.1K
-10.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$23.76 ₡11.9K
11.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$108 ₡53.9K
-20.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$108 ₡54K
-33.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,799 ₡900.8K
-75.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$794 ₡397.6K
-70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,974 ₡1.5M
-72.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$906 ₡453.7K
-45.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$5,354 ₡2.7M
-59.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$3,265 ₡1.6M
-52.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tamarindo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$875 ₡437.9K
-19.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
9
-44.44%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tamarindo: October 28, 2025

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