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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $812 in Tena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,208 in Tena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,605 in Tena, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Tena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$2.93 $2.93

-33.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$17.95 $17.95

4.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$5.36 $5.36

47.76%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.21 $2.21

-13.57%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.71 $0.71

-50.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.47 $1.47

50.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.57 $2.57

47.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.07 $1.07

53.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.98 $0.98

65.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.23 $1.23

-4.07%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.84 $1.84

9.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$2.53 $2.53

528.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$2.99 $2.99

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$3.52 $3.52

205.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.07 $2.07

26.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.21 $1.21

0.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.07 $1.07

58.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.32 $1.32

19.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.26 $1.26

4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.96 $0.96

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.48 $0.48

39.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.01 $1.01

-44.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.55 $3.55

27.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$5.13 $5.13

254.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.53 $1.53

19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.52 $1.52

112.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.39 $0.39

128.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$24.11 $24.11

-19.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.22 $1.22

10.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.03 $1.03

31.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.91 $4.91

68.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.66 $0.66

92.42%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.4K $20.4K

3.95%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

-12.32%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$25.26 $25.26

177.71%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$14.51 $14.51

-5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$14.73 $14.73

19.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$30.32 $30.32

37.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.40 $14.40

-54.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.94 $6.94

-16.71%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$277 $277

10.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$8,803 $8,803

68.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$57.4 $57.4

-5.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$43.77 $43.77

-40.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$101 $101

-16.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$86.1 $86.1

-19.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$344 $344

23.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$317 $317

-24.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$615 $615

34.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$500 $500

3.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,183 $1,183

73.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$787 $787

93.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

-55.32%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tena: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $344 in Tena. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Tena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $135 – making Tena the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Tena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 5% more than Tena, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,218 in Tena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tena, 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 $277 in Tena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 80% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $812 in Tena, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tena costs $812 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 Tena. 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.