😐A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $856 in Tatuí, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,371 in Tatuí, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,886 in Tatuí, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Tatuí, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Tatuí are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai32% lower, Tatuí37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08฿69.5
$5.82R$29.96
-64.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61฿655
$31.22R$161
-37.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67฿189
$7.09R$36.53
-20.03%
Cappuccino
$1.81฿60.3
$1.91R$9.86
-5.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.65
$1.32R$6.79
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.53
$0.74R$3.81
-52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿73.9
$1.98R$10.19
11.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿127
$2.94R$15.14
28.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05฿68.4
$1.25R$6.43
64.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51฿50.6
$1.10R$5.68
37.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40฿46.69
$2.48R$12.79
-43.55%
Eggs
$2.26฿75.4
$2.50R$12.87
-9.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.19฿540
$9.48R$48.85
70.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90฿96.7
$4.14R$21.32
-29.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42฿314
$8.19R$42.20
15.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿89.4
$2.16R$11.14
24.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09฿36.37
$1.25R$6.43
-12.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿54.0
$1.20R$6.16
35.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.74
$1.60R$8.24
-8.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28฿42.65
$1.20R$6.19
6.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06฿35.31
$1.05R$5.40
0.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72฿23.94
$0.81R$4.16
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.56
$0.79R$4.08
-32.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23฿141
$2.40R$12.38
76.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.29฿611
$7.56R$38.95
141.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63฿54.4
$1.21R$6.26
34.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90฿96.8
$2.06R$10.61
40.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿29.32
$1.00R$5.14
-12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8฿1,795
$40.49R$209
32.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17฿39.14
$1.60R$8.25
-26.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58฿19.30
$0.85R$4.38
-31.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39฿79.6
$7.69R$39.61
-68.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45฿48.41
$1.12R$5.78
29.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K฿701.4K
$30.8KR$158.8K
-31.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K฿882.0K
$33.4KR$172.1K
-20.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7฿2,125
$71.3R$368
-10.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿430
$11.96R$61.6
7.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52฿685
$20.49R$106
0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02฿1,302
$25.57R$132
52.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92฿131
$26.58R$137
-85.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58฿220
$6.85R$35.30
-3.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$784฿26.2K
$294R$1,515
166.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K฿489.8K
$7,363R$37.9K
99.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1฿1,840
$54.0R$278
2.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74฿826
$48.38R$249
-48.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1฿3,142
$92.6R$477
1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0฿2,469
$70.9R$366
4.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490฿16.4K
$336R$1,730
46.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288฿9,620
$235R$1,213
22.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891฿29.8K
$648R$3,336
37.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$521฿17.4K
$463R$2,387
12.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,974฿65.9K
$1,586R$8,172
24.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,444฿48.2K
$1,130R$5,821
27.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tatuí
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602฿20.1K
$424R$2,187
41.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11.06
-49.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Tatuí: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $336 in Tatuí. 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 42% 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 $31.00 in Tatuí. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $192 in Tatuí – so Tatuí 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 Tatuí: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tatuí?
Chiang Mai costs about 9% more than Tatuí, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Tatuí?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,284 in Tatuí. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tatuí?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tatuí, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Tatuí?
Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $294 in Tatuí. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Tatuí?
Groceries cost about 26% 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.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Tatuí?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tatuí, where all-in costs run around $856, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tatuí it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tatuí?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tatuí costs $856 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Tatuí?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Tatuí?
If budget matters most, go with Tatuí. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared