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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $917 in Troyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,441 in Troyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,966 in Troyan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 7% cheaper than Troyan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Troyan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Troyan 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$10.48 BGN 17.50

-81.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$34.78 BGN 58.1

-45.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$7.76 BGN 12.96

2.06%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.50 BGN 2.50

27.33%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.45 BGN 2.43

-42.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.92 BGN 1.53

-61.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.44 BGN 2.41

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.73 BGN 2.88

119.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.65 BGN 2.75

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.53 BGN 0.88

205.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.28 BGN 3.81

-48.25%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.61 BGN 4.36

-22.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$8.94 BGN 14.93

77.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$8.06 BGN 13.46

-62.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$11.76 BGN 19.63

-8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.19 BGN 1.99

119.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.68 BGN 2.80

-27.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.80 BGN 3.00

-5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.10 BGN 3.51

-24.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.92 BGN 1.53

43.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.62 BGN 2.71

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.01 BGN 1.69

-33.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.73 BGN 1.22

-23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$3.62 BGN 6.04

25.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.39 BGN 12.34

146.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.90 BGN 1.51

103.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.21 BGN 2.01

166.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.85 BGN 1.41

4.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$26.45 BGN 44.17

-26.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.02 BGN 1.70

32.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.61 BGN 1.02

121.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$10.45 BGN 17.46

-21.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.58 BGN 2.64

-19.62%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$32.8K BGN 54.8K

-35.53%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$26.5K BGN 44.2K

-15.08%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$102 BGN 171

-31.42%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$17.39 BGN 29.04

-20.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$12.27 BGN 20.50

43.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$29.51 BGN 49.28

40.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$14.95 BGN 24.97

-55.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.92 BGN 9.89

-2.36%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$321 BGN 535

-4.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,393 BGN 9,007

174.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$53.9 BGN 90.0

0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$29.00 BGN 48.44

-9.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$73.5 BGN 123

14.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$120 BGN 200

-41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$285 BGN 476

48.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$229 BGN 383

3.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$479 BGN 799

72.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$356 BGN 594

44.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,476 BGN 2,465

38.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$937 BGN 1,565

62.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$901 BGN 1,504

-29.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Troyan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $285 in Troyan. 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 42% higher in Troyan, 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 $35.00 in Troyan. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $218 in Troyan – so Troyan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Troyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Troyan costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,376 in Troyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $321 in Troyan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Troyan – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $917 in Troyan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $917 in Troyan. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Troyan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.