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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $318 in Tongi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $525 in Tongi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $733 in Tongi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Tongi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tongi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Tongi 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$1.66 ৳204

19.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$9.91 ৳1,215

89.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$4.99 ৳612

55.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.17 ৳511

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ৳581

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.43 ৳175

34.27%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.31 ৳38.49

154.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.17 ৳20.62

111.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$0.67 ৳82.1

146.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.55 ৳67.6

196.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$0.57 ৳70.1

108.77%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$1.15 ৳142

73.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.71 ৳822

138.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$2.46 ৳302

23.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$5.32 ৳652

104.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.23 ৳273

23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$0.96 ৳117

22.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.03 ৳249

-19.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$0.62 ৳76.5

145.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$0.26 ৳31.45

430.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.41 ৳49.64

190.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.32 ৳39.81

118.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.28 ৳34.63

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.53 ৳1,045

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 ৳273

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 ৳612

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.85 ৳349

60.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.22 ৳26.97

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$10.16 ৳1,246

84.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.79 ৳96.6

72.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.40 ৳48.71

235.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.07 ৳253

278.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.00 ৳122

23.00%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$29.0K ৳3.6M

-25.56%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$27.7K ৳3.4M

-18.68%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$29.76 ৳3,647

137.03%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$4.86 ৳595

181.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$8.92 ৳1,093

95.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$13.55 ৳1,660

205.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.97 ৳1,467

-41.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$4.07 ৳499

41.77%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$27.02 ৳3,311

1036.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$934 ৳114.5K

1463.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$16.26 ৳1,992

243.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$18.03 ৳2,210

45.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$32.62 ৳3,998

162.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$36.70 ৳4,498

96.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$68.4 ৳8,381

528.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$42.21 ৳5,173

465.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$164 ৳20.1K

398.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$96.6 ৳11.8K

428.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$848 ৳103.9K

133.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.29

-51.41%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tongi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $68.4 in Tongi. 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 $10.00 in Tongi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $102 – making Tongi 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 Tongi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 173% more than Tongi, 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $477 in Tongi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tongi, 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 $27.02 in Tongi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $318 in Tongi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tongi costs $318 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 Tongi. 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.