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 $815 in Temara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,278 in Temara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,741 in Temara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Temara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Temara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Temara 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$4.63 MAD 42.85

-57.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$32.94 MAD 305

-42.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.82 MAD 63.1

16.13%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.59 MAD 23.94

-26.25%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.64 MAD 5.96

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.41 MAD 3.78

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$5.44 MAD 50.3

-59.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$4.07 MAD 37.64

-6.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.88 MAD 8.12

86.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.55 MAD 5.06

194.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.85 MAD 17.11

-36.22%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.00 MAD 18.47

0.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$12.56 MAD 116

26.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$6.10 MAD 56.4

-50.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$11.07 MAD 102

-2.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.50 MAD 13.87

74.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.38 MAD 12.77

-11.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$0.81 MAD 7.54

109.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$0.83 MAD 7.70

90.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.79 MAD 7.28

67.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.76 MAD 7.01

53.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.43 MAD 3.98

55.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.62 MAD 5.76

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.20 MAD 38.89

7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.95 MAD 73.6

128.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.74 MAD 25.30

-33.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.45 MAD 22.70

31.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.53 MAD 4.86

67.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$16.92 MAD 157

14.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.91 MAD 8.44

48.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.78 MAD 7.17

73.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.48 MAD 41.42

84.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.54 MAD 14.22

-17.53%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$37.2K MAD 344.0K

-43.11%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$29.6K MAD 273.8K

-24.04%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$38.69 MAD 358

81.31%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$11.09 MAD 103

24.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$40.94 MAD 379

-57.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$24.10 MAD 223

72.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$5.59 MAD 51.7

18.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.73 MAD 62.2

-14.12%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$136 MAD 1,256

125.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$2,357 MAD 21.8K

529.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$42.55 MAD 394

27.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$49.64 MAD 459

-47.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$108 MAD 1,000

-21.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$105 MAD 970

-33.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$399 MAD 3,694

6.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$212 MAD 1,959

12.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$668 MAD 6,182

23.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$335 MAD 3,096

53.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,261 MAD 11.7K

62.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$915 MAD 8,463

66.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$343 MAD 3,176

84.98%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Temara: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $399 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 85% 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 – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $202 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 5% more than Temara, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,222 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $136 in Temara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Temara, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Chiang Mai at $852. In Temara 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. Temara costs $815 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.