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 $918 in Troyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,413 in Troyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,909 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 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$10.72 BGN 17.83

-80.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$36.08 BGN 60.0

-48.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$7.91 BGN 13.16

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$1.50 BGN 2.50

35.33%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$1.46 BGN 2.42

-45.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$0.89 BGN 1.49

-60.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$1.44 BGN 2.40

48.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$1.81 BGN 3.01

102.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.72 BGN 2.86

0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$0.56 BGN 0.93

180.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$2.26 BGN 3.76

-46.90%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$2.71 BGN 4.50

-27.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$8.65 BGN 14.39

87.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$7.99 BGN 13.29

-61.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$11.63 BGN 19.35

-7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.16 BGN 1.92

138.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.67 BGN 2.78

-29.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.79 BGN 2.99

-4.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.09 BGN 3.48

-23.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$0.84 BGN 1.39

65.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.63 BGN 2.72

-28.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$1.06 BGN 1.76

-37.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.74 BGN 1.22

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.56 BGN 5.93

30.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$7.45 BGN 12.39

138.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$0.86 BGN 1.42

108.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.16 BGN 1.94

187.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.90 BGN 1.50

1.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$26.22 BGN 43.62

-28.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$1.01 BGN 1.68

39.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.66 BGN 1.10

103.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$10.60 BGN 17.64

-23.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-18.54%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$31.9K BGN 53.0K

-32.72%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$26.3K BGN 43.7K

-16.97%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$98.4 BGN 164

-27.51%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$17.63 BGN 29.34

-20.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$12.63 BGN 21.01

41.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$29.29 BGN 48.72

39.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$15.03 BGN 25.01

-54.22%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$6.02 BGN 10.01

-4.98%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$325 BGN 540

-5.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$5,481 BGN 9,118

167.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$53.4 BGN 88.8

4.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$29.32 BGN 48.78

-11.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$74.3 BGN 124

14.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$117 BGN 195

-39.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$288 BGN 480

46.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$228 BGN 380

6.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$467 BGN 778

70.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$356 BGN 592

42.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,317 BGN 2,191

45.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$987 BGN 1,642

48.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$885 BGN 1,472

-32.76%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Troyan: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $288 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 49% 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 $36.00 in Troyan. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $217 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,377 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $325 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 $918 in Troyan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $918 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.