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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $637 in Tartus, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $990 in Tartus, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,344 in Tartus, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Tartus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tartus are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Tartus 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.01 SYP 1,217

-79.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$45.16 SYP 5,487

-56.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$6.95 SYP 844

-18.42%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.60 SYP 438

-49.72%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$2.29 SYP 279

-66.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.81 SYP 98.9

-56.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.94 SYP 236

13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.95 SYP 359

28.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$0.48 SYP 58.7

327.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.41 SYP 50.2

268.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$0.78 SYP 95.3

79.49%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$0.86 SYP 104

162.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$3.83 SYP 466

322.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$3.07 SYP 372

-5.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.56 SYP 1,647

-30.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.03 SYP 125

160.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.38 SYP 167

-21.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.09 SYP 132

48.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$0.22 SYP 26.60

563.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.22 SYP 26.60

481.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.30 SYP 36.32

253.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$0.40 SYP 48.53

80.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.61 SYP 74.6

-13.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.74 SYP 333

54.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$6.03 SYP 732

203.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$1.10 SYP 134

48.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.85 SYP 347

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.32 SYP 39.34

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.99 SYP 120

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.48 SYP 180

-60.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$7.76 SYP 942

-69.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$3.65 SYP 443

-60.27%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$15.0K SYP 1.8M

39.95%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$18.8K SYP 2.3M

40.74%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$142 SYP 17.2K

-55.02%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.67 SYP 1,175

33.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$19.64 SYP 2,386

4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$5.80 SYP 704

572.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$5.45 SYP 663

20.73%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$9.56 SYP 1,161

8099.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$1,801 SYP 218.8K

714.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$11.69 SYP 1,420

371.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$39.82 SYP 4,838

-37.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$45.71 SYP 5,554

105.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$15.29 SYP 1,857

383.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$114 SYP 13.9K

329.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$76.3 SYP 9,268

277.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$233 SYP 28.4K

281.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$115 SYP 13.9K

354.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$50.7 SYP 6,164

1085.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

14.25

-60.91%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tartus: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $114 in Tartus. 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 1086% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Tartus. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $135 in Tartus – so Tartus 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 Tartus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Tartus, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $956 in Tartus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tartus, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $45.00 in Tartus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 78% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tartus, where all-in costs run around $637, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tartus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tartus costs $637 versus $932 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 Tartus. 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.