😐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $661 in Teyateyaneng, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $948 in Teyateyaneng, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,235 in Teyateyaneng, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Teyateyaneng, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Teyateyaneng are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Teyateyaneng51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94฿63.6
$3.40LSL 55.1
-42.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64฿609
$11.36LSL 184
64.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82฿256
$5.49LSL 89.2
42.44%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$1.70LSL 27.62
14.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.80
$0.81LSL 13.08
4.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.60
$0.57LSL 9.27
-38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿69.7
$1.66LSL 26.94
28.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$1.97LSL 31.98
89.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿56.0
$1.01LSL 16.48
69.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.3
$0.82LSL 13.36
98.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14฿37.18
$2.18LSL 35.34
-47.71%
Eggs
$1.93฿63.2
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21฿530
$2.56LSL 41.54
533.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90฿356
$3.26LSL 53.0
234.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.36LSL 22.04
102.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21฿39.56
$1.43LSL 23.15
-15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62฿53.0
$1.38LSL 22.38
17.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.9
$1.08LSL 17.61
47.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40฿45.75
$1.37LSL 22.22
2.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.20
$1.14LSL 18.53
2.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66฿21.62
$1.40LSL 22.79
-52.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.24
$0.86LSL 14.03
-38.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿153
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66฿610
$3.74LSL 60.8
398.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.96LSL 31.88
-8.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23฿106
$1.65LSL 26.79
95.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90฿29.28
$0.70LSL 11.39
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21฿628
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿45.96
$0.74LSL 12.04
90.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.16
$0.67LSL 10.96
92.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27฿41.62
$1.24LSL 20.17
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K฿695.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K฿726.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1฿2,258
$198LSL 3,208
-65.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08฿460
$22.60LSL 367
-37.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00฿588
$33.86LSL 550
-46.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06฿1,342
$55.9LSL 908
-26.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92฿193
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299฿9,775
$113LSL 1,841
163.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K฿488.8K
$1,113LSL 18.1K
1243.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7฿1,788
$84.3LSL 1,368
-35.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77฿875
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0฿2,778
$83.0LSL 1,348
2.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,308
$109LSL 1,777
-35.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428฿14.0K
$55.4LSL 900
672.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237฿7,759
$38.82LSL 630
511.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801฿26.2K
$139LSL 2,261
475.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515฿16.9K
$84.7LSL 1,375
508.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975฿64.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Teyateyaneng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617฿20.2K
$309LSL 5,022
99.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Teyateyaneng: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $55.4 in Teyateyaneng. 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 100% 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 $11.00 in Teyateyaneng. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $114 – making Teyateyaneng 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 Teyateyaneng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
Chiang Mai costs about 31% more than Teyateyaneng, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Teyateyaneng?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $992 in Teyateyaneng. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Teyateyaneng, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Teyateyaneng?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $11.00 in Teyateyaneng. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
Groceries cost about 117% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $661 in Teyateyaneng, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Teyateyaneng costs $661 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Teyateyaneng?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Teyateyaneng?
If budget matters most, go with Teyateyaneng. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared