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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $316 in Tongi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $523 in Tongi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $731 in Tongi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Tongi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tongi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tongi 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$1.69 ৳209

20.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$9.92 ৳1,226

88.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$4.83 ৳597

62.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.02 ৳497

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ৳574

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.48 ৳183

37.16%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$0.34 ৳42.47

135.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.17 ৳20.92

105.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$0.65 ৳79.9

166.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.55 ৳68.3

185.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$0.62 ৳76.2

93.55%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.20 ৳149

64.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$6.77 ৳837

139.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$2.53 ৳312

20.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$5.47 ৳676

97.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$2.15 ৳265

28.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$0.99 ৳123

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$2.00 ৳247

-14.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$0.61 ৳75.9

160.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.26 ৳32.01

434.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$0.38 ৳46.40

205.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.35 ৳43.66

88.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.26 ৳31.86

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.07 ৳998

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 ৳276

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 ৳611

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$2.93 ৳362

58.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.22 ৳27.20

313.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$10.11 ৳1,250

84.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.84 ৳104

67.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.42 ৳52.4

219.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$2.09 ৳258

288.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$0.99 ৳123

24.24%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$28.4K ৳3.5M

-24.43%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$27.6K ৳3.4M

-21.06%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$29.90 ৳3,695

138.56%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$4.81 ৳594

191.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$9.13 ৳1,128

96.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$13.47 ৳1,665

203.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$11.98 ৳1,480

-42.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$4.22 ৳522

35.55%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$26.81 ৳3,313

1049.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$943 ৳116.5K

1456.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$16.17 ৳1,999

244.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$17.56 ৳2,170

48.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$32.95 ৳4,072

157.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$36.37 ৳4,494

95.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$70.9 ৳8,755

497.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$42.42 ৳5,243

471.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$164 ৳20.2K

387.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$98.5 ৳12.2K

414.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$642 ৳79.3K

198.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tongi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $70.9 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: $244 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 170% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $474 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.81 in Tongi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 138% 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 $852 in Chiang Mai and $316 in Tongi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tongi costs $316 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 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.