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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $848 per month in Chiang Mai vs $167 in Tete, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,331 per month in Chiang Mai vs $275 in Tete, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Chiang Mai vs $384 in Tete, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 409% more than Tete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tete are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tete 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$4.63 MZN 293

-57.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

$1.59 MZN 101

22.64%

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

$0.75 MZN 47.14

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

$0.40 MZN 25.56

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

$0.80 MZN 50.9

167.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

$1.22 MZN 77.0

201.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

$1.57 MZN 99.5

5.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

$0.73 MZN 45.92

113.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

$2.30 MZN 145

-48.26%

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

$3.22 MZN 204

-38.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

$3.18 MZN 201

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

$1.57 MZN 99.4

68.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

$1.55 MZN 98.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

$1.53 MZN 96.8

-13.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

$1.60 MZN 102

-24.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

$0.80 MZN 50.4

-28.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

$1.12 MZN 70.7

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

$1.53 MZN 96.6

107.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

Last update for Tete: June 14, 2026

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 Tete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 409% more than Tete, 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 $1,272 per month in Chiang Mai and $250 in Tete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $848 in Chiang Mai and $167 in Tete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 136% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $848 in Chiang Mai and $167 in Tete, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tete costs $167 versus $848 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 Tete. 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.