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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Temara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,274 in Temara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,730 in Temara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Temara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Temara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Temara 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$4.57 MAD 42.25

-56.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$32.33 MAD 299

-41.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$6.56 MAD 60.7

18.14%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$2.51 MAD 23.19

-23.51%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.64 MAD 5.92

23.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.37 MAD 3.43

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$5.37 MAD 49.65

-58.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.02 MAD 37.15

-8.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.86 MAD 7.98

91.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.54 MAD 5.04

201.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.75 MAD 16.19

-32.00%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.09 MAD 19.34

-4.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$12.81 MAD 119

24.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.02 MAD 55.7

-49.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$11.04 MAD 102

-1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.51 MAD 13.97

82.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.38 MAD 12.74

-14.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$0.82 MAD 7.62

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.89 MAD 8.23

70.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.74 MAD 6.89

86.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.74 MAD 6.82

60.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.39 MAD 3.61

79.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.64 MAD 5.91

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$4.28 MAD 39.55

7.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.98 MAD 73.8

107.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$2.74 MAD 25.34

-33.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$2.47 MAD 22.83

29.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.57 MAD 5.29

54.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$16.68 MAD 154

12.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.91 MAD 8.39

49.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.78 MAD 7.24

71.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.28 MAD 39.59

83.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.51 MAD 14.01

-18.54%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$36.7K MAD 339.4K

-41.06%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$30.0K MAD 277.4K

-24.81%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$38.51 MAD 356

83.17%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.68 MAD 98.8

28.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$39.36 MAD 364

-55.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$23.62 MAD 219

74.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$5.51 MAD 51.0

26.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$6.48 MAD 59.9

-10.96%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$134 MAD 1,242

128.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$2,339 MAD 21.6K

524.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$43.41 MAD 402

28.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$49.40 MAD 457

-46.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$107 MAD 991

-19.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$103 MAD 954

-29.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$404 MAD 3,740

6.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$211 MAD 1,956

12.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$685 MAD 6,336

19.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$335 MAD 3,098

52.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$1,238 MAD 11.5K

60.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$917 MAD 8,487

61.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$243 MAD 2,250

154.40%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Temara: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $404 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 154% 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 $32.00 in Temara. Groceries tell a different story – $241 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 6% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,227 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $134 in Temara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $818 in Temara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Temara costs $818 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 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.