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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $608 in Tema, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $984 in Tema, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,360 in Tema, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Tema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tema are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tema 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$7.23 GHS 79.5

-72.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$27.52 GHS 303

-31.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.79 GHS 85.7

-0.51%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.52 GHS 16.70

26.32%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.03 GHS 11.37

-23.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.31 GHS 3.40

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.71 GHS 18.85

29.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.67 GHS 29.35

37.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$3.05 GHS 33.53

-45.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.65 GHS 18.14

-1.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.50 GHS 16.45

-20.67%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.17 GHS 23.89

-7.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$3.60 GHS 39.57

343.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.64 GHS 29.03

14.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$2.44 GHS 26.89

345.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.79 GHS 30.65

-1.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.99 GHS 21.89

-40.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.07 GHS 22.81

-20.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.94 GHS 32.39

-48.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.80 GHS 19.83

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.98 GHS 21.81

-39.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.60 GHS 6.63

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.83 GHS 9.12

-32.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$6.88 GHS 75.7

140.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.87 GHS 9.58

110.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$2.00 GHS 22.05

-56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$39.98 GHS 440

-53.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$1.42 GHS 15.57

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.72 GHS 7.92

86.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.22 GHS 13.46

0.82%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$30.56 GHS 336

130.82%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$12.40 GHS 136

10.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$63.9 GHS 703

-72.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$19.29 GHS 212

114.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$83.0 GHS 913

270.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$24.85 GHS 273

124.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$25.05 GHS 276

4.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$45.65 GHS 502

87.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$62.2 GHS 684

16.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$117 GHS 1,282

268.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$66.2 GHS 728

260.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$137 GHS 1,506

273.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$9,866 GHS 108.5K

-79.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$5,964 GHS 65.6K

-75.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$412 GHS 4,531

50.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

32.5

-84.62%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tema: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $117 in Tema. 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 50% 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 $28.00 in Tema. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $182 in Tema – so Tema 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 Tema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Tema, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $912 in Tema. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $83.0 in Tema. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $608 in Tema, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tema costs $608 versus $869 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 Tema. 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.