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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 50.3% cheaper than Townsville without rent, and 60.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 40.5% cheaper than Townsville without rent, and 58% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$11.56 A$17.71
-82.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$60.8 A$93.1
-69.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$9.6 A$14.71
-20.10%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$3.18 A$4.87
-37.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.39 A$3.67
-65.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.22 A$3.4
-85.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.49 A$9.94
-67.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$5.09 A$7.8
-26.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.46 A$2.23
12.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$2.15 A$3.29
-26.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.67 A$2.56
-28.74%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4.05 A$6.21
-51.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$7.46 A$11.43
114.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.36 A$12.81
-62.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$11.78 A$18.04
-5.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.72 A$5.69
-25.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.95 A$4.53
-58.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.32 A$5.08
-48.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.23 A$6.48
-63.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$2.56 A$3.93
-47.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.49 A$3.81
-51.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.11 A$3.24
-65.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$2.02 A$3.1
-73.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$24.03 A$36.81
-80.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.76 A$16.48
70.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$3.27 A$5.01
-45.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$7.56 A$11.59
-57.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.08 A$3.18
-54.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$73.3 A$112
-74.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.6 A$5.51
-60.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.44 A$2.2
-6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$48.45 A$74.2
-83.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.15 A$1.76
8.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$23.2K A$35.5K
-8.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$19.7K A$30.2K
10.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$150 A$230
-52.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$35.23 A$54
-61.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$58.6 A$89.8
-70.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$41.83 A$64.1
-0.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$14.35 A$21.98
-51.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$15.54 A$23.8
-62.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,149 A$1,760
-73.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$12.1K A$18.5K
21.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$95.3 A$146
-41.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$59.9 A$91.7
-55.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$99.3 A$152
-14.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$119 A$182
-39.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$1,229 A$1,882
-64.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,063 A$1,629
-77.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,363 A$3,620
-65.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$1,909 A$2,925
-73.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$3,938 A$6,032
-44.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$3,351 A$5,133
-53.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Townsville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,160 A$6,373
-83.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.06
-17.49%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Townsville: October 28, 2025

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