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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,143 in Troyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,796 in Troyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,449 in Troyan, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Troyan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Troyan are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Troyan 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$17.14 BGN 28.52

-87.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$53.2 BGN 88.5

-63.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.00 BGN 14.97

-37.00%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$1.46 BGN 2.43

23.97%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-48.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-67.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.51 BGN 2.51

46.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$1.79 BGN 2.98

111.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.88 BGN 3.12

9.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$0.57 BGN 0.94

164.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.30 BGN 3.83

-39.13%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.76 BGN 4.59

-18.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$9.10 BGN 15.14

77.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$8.71 BGN 14.48

-66.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$17.08 BGN 28.42

-44.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.20 BGN 2.00

123.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.69 BGN 2.81

-35.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.91 BGN 3.17

-15.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$4.05 BGN 6.73

-63.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.91 BGN 1.52

40.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.92 BGN 1.53

15.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-39.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.73 BGN 1.22

-27.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.65 BGN 6.07

15.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.47 BGN 12.42

144.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.93 BGN 1.55

75.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.83 BGN 3.05

58.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-2.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$25.35 BGN 42.17

112.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$0.99 BGN 1.65

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.69 BGN 1.14

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$16.34 BGN 27.19

-85.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.69 BGN 2.81

-14.20%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$31.1K BGN 51.8K

-32.47%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$27.4K BGN 45.5K

-3.40%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$166 BGN 277

-61.73%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$20.58 BGN 34.23

-37.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.38 BGN 20.60

65.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$35.40 BGN 58.9

10.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$20.07 BGN 33.39

-80.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.69 BGN 11.13

-1.64%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$786 BGN 1,308

-0.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$6,115 BGN 10.2K

139.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$91.8 BGN 153

-39.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$29.88 BGN 49.71

-17.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$106 BGN 177

-11.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$109 BGN 181

-32.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$311 BGN 518

57.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$235 BGN 391

22.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$521 BGN 867

71.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$395 BGN 657

31.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,368 BGN 2,275

44.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$983 BGN 1,636

46.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$878 BGN 1,460

-31.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

2.9

92.07%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Troyan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $311 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 46% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Troyan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $252 – making Chiang Mai 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 Troyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Troyan costs about 23% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,714 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $786 in Troyan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Troyan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Troyan at $1,143. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Troyan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,143 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.