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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $338 in Tongi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $539 in Tongi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $740 in Tongi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 176% more than Tongi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tongi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Tongi 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$2.07 ৳253

0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$9.20 ৳1,129

113.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.87 ৳598

16.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ৳287

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ৳547

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$1.90 ৳233

-4.74%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.34 ৳41.14

126.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.16 ৳19.53

118.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$0.76 ৳93.0

169.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.53 ৳65.1

184.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$0.64 ৳78.6

118.75%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.12 ৳138

101.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$7.76 ৳953

108.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.09 ৳256

38.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$6.07 ৳744

55.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$2.51 ৳309

6.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$0.75 ৳91.6

45.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.29 ৳281

-29.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$0.71 ৳87.5

105.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$0.21 ৳25.16

509.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$0.52 ৳63.7

103.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$0.44 ৳53.9

63.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.28 ৳33.88

89.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$7.85 ৳963

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 ৳331

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ৳603

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.90 ৳356

45.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.46 ৳56.4

91.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$0.80 ৳98.6

46.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.42 ৳51.1

38.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$2.89 ৳355

-17.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$1.02 ৳126

42.16%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$29.7K ৳3.6M

-29.23%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$32.7K ৳4.0M

-19.19%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$30.11 ৳3,695

111.39%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$3.90 ৳479

230.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$8.06 ৳989

154.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$13.55 ৳1,663

187.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$3.75 ৳461

75.47%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$26.00 ৳3,190

2914.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$1,570 ৳192.7K

834.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$21.63 ৳2,654

154.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$24.41 ৳2,995

1.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$32.94 ৳4,042

185.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$33.93 ৳4,164

117.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$87.7 ৳10.8K

458.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$51.4 ৳6,302

461.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$167 ৳20.5K

434.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$114 ৳14.0K

358.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$645 ৳79.1K

206.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$102 ৳12.5K

490.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.48

-46.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tongi: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $87.7 in Tongi. 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 491% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $9.00 in Tongi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $108 – 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 176% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $507 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $9.00 in Tongi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 122% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tongi, where all-in costs run around $338, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tongi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tongi costs $338 versus $932 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.