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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $773 in Temara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,192 in Temara, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,611 in Temara, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 23% more than Temara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Temara are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Temara 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$4.22 MAD 39.64

-50.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$31.47 MAD 296

-36.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.54 MAD 61.5

-11.47%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.90 MAD 17.85

-3.68%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$0.64 MAD 6.00

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$0.37 MAD 3.49

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$5.19 MAD 48.80

-54.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.24 MAD 30.42

14.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$0.93 MAD 8.75

118.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.85 MAD 7.97

88.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$1.62 MAD 15.24

-12.35%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$2.06 MAD 19.37

5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$9.68 MAD 91.0

64.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.52 MAD 51.9

-44.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$11.89 MAD 112

-16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$1.62 MAD 15.21

62.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.41 MAD 13.23

-21.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$0.91 MAD 8.54

79.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$0.92 MAD 8.61

66.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$0.74 MAD 6.97

67.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$0.85 MAD 7.97

32.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$0.28 MAD 2.65

164.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$0.60 MAD 5.61

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$4.17 MAD 39.20

2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$7.70 MAD 72.4

133.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$2.30 MAD 21.65

-26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$2.66 MAD 25.04

9.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.55 MAD 5.16

70.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$25.43 MAD 239

117.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$0.81 MAD 7.60

51.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.95 MAD 8.90

-44.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$4.31 MAD 40.49

-44.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.58 MAD 14.85

-8.86%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$34.9K MAD 328.2K

-39.32%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$31.5K MAD 295.9K

-13.28%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$36.22 MAD 340

79.27%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$10.37 MAD 97.4

28.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$37.81 MAD 355

-44.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$24.32 MAD 229

66.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$5.47 MAD 51.4

-27.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$6.30 MAD 59.2

6.51%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$119 MAD 1,118

561.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$7,071 MAD 66.4K

113.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$32.67 MAD 307

72.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$45.97 MAD 432

-45.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$86.9 MAD 817

6.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$83.4 MAD 784

-9.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$263 MAD 2,467

84.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$205 MAD 1,931

39.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$420 MAD 3,949

116.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$320 MAD 3,012

65.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$1,267 MAD 11.9K

56.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$975 MAD 9,165

48.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$245 MAD 2,298

147.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.5

59.14%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Temara: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $263 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 148% 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 Temara. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $194 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 23% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,160 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $119 in Temara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $773, than in Chiang Mai at $950. 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 $773 versus $950 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.