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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $831 in Temara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,269 in Temara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,706 in Temara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Temara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Temara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Temara 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$4.72 MAD 44.29

-56.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$33.41 MAD 314

-44.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$6.51 MAD 61.1

20.74%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$2.47 MAD 23.17

-17.81%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$0.68 MAD 6.36

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$0.38 MAD 3.53

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$5.53 MAD 51.9

-61.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$4.18 MAD 39.20

-12.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$0.87 MAD 8.12

98.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.55 MAD 5.15

185.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$1.77 MAD 16.59

-32.20%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$2.03 MAD 19.03

-2.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$12.97 MAD 122

25.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.04 MAD 56.7

-49.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$11.41 MAD 107

-5.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$1.58 MAD 14.86

75.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.39 MAD 13.08

-15.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$0.83 MAD 7.75

106.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$0.89 MAD 8.30

78.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$0.74 MAD 6.94

87.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$0.76 MAD 7.12

52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.43 MAD 4.03

53.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$0.59 MAD 5.56

-11.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$4.23 MAD 39.72

9.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$8.01 MAD 75.1

121.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$2.70 MAD 25.29

-33.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$2.46 MAD 23.12

35.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.53 MAD 4.93

71.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$16.74 MAD 157

11.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$0.84 MAD 7.92

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.81 MAD 7.64

65.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$4.51 MAD 42.30

79.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.54 MAD 14.44

-20.13%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$37.5K MAD 352.3K

-42.91%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$29.8K MAD 279.5K

-26.72%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$38.53 MAD 362

85.13%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$10.96 MAD 103

27.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$39.42 MAD 370

-54.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$23.84 MAD 224

71.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$5.33 MAD 50.0

29.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.64 MAD 62.3

-13.86%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$138 MAD 1,293

123.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$2,361 MAD 22.2K

521.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$42.13 MAD 395

32.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$50.3 MAD 471

-48.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$106 MAD 994

-19.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$105 MAD 988

-32.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$406 MAD 3,813

4.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$205 MAD 1,923

18.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$688 MAD 6,455

15.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$332 MAD 3,117

52.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$1,239 MAD 11.6K

54.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$972 MAD 9,121

50.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$244 MAD 2,291

143.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.75

5.26%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Temara: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $406 in Temara. 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 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 $33.00 in Temara. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $204 in Temara – so Temara 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 Temara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Temara, 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,247 in Temara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $138 in Temara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $831 in Temara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Temara costs $831 versus $852 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 Temara. 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.