ðA single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $636 in Truskavets, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $958 in Truskavets, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,280 in Truskavets, rent included.
ðChiang Mai costs about 34% more than Truskavets, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Chiang Mai and Truskavets are more affordable than the global median â Chiang Mai36% lower, Truskavets53% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96āļŋ64.0
$7.12âī314
-72.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81āļŋ615
$23.88âī1,052
-21.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92āļŋ259
$4.75âī209
66.74%
Cappuccino
$1.91āļŋ62.6
$1.09âī48.01
75.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84āļŋ27.41
$0.52âī22.83
61.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35āļŋ11.51
$0.40âī17.81
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$1.19âī52.4
85.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ124
$1.05âī46.43
261.90%
ð Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64āļŋ53.5
$0.82âī36.34
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62āļŋ53.1
$0.67âī29.42
141.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18āļŋ38.62
$1.37âī60.5
-13.87%
Eggs
$2.01āļŋ65.8
$1.13âī49.69
77.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89āļŋ520
$5.43âī239
192.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01āļŋ98.5
$3.18âī140
-5.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77āļŋ352
$5.85âī258
84.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61āļŋ85.5
$0.71âī31.40
267.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22āļŋ39.88
$1.27âī56.1
-3.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70āļŋ55.7
$1.19âī52.5
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58āļŋ51.5
$1.86âī82.0
-15.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32āļŋ43.14
$0.30âī13.01
340.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17āļŋ38.23
$0.68âī30.06
72.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67āļŋ21.98
$0.75âī33.03
-10.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56āļŋ18.32
$0.56âī24.90
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53āļŋ148
$2.87âī127
57.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.20āļŋ595
$4.42âī195
311.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83āļŋ60.0
$0.92âī40.56
98.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23āļŋ106
$1.11âī48.99
190.99%
ð Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89āļŋ29.00
$0.37âī16.39
140.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.38āļŋ634
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.35āļŋ44.20
$1.19âī52.7
13.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35āļŋ44.05
$0.23âī10.05
486.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.25āļŋ270
$2.92âī129
182.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27āļŋ41.64
$1.33âī58.4
-4.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2Kāļŋ691.8K
$31.1Kâī1.4M
-32.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5Kāļŋ735.3K
$24.2Kâī1.1M
-7.26%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.2āļŋ2,294
$86.1âī3,794
-18.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77āļŋ450
$5.15âī227
167.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60āļŋ575
$4.70âī207
274.47%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.57āļŋ1,360
$24.96âī1,100
66.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60āļŋ216
$9.61âī424
-31.32%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78āļŋ189
$3.71âī164
55.80%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306āļŋ10.0K
$212âī9,333
44.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8Kāļŋ484.8K
$3,470âī152.9K
327.23%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4āļŋ1,778
$23.70âī1,044
129.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14āļŋ855
$34.53âī1,522
-24.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5āļŋ2,764
$36.88âī1,625
129.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4āļŋ2,270
$66.6âī2,933
4.31%
ð Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424āļŋ13.9K
$263âī11.6K
61.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238āļŋ7,788
$205âī9,050
15.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825āļŋ27.0K
$437âī19.2K
88.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515āļŋ16.8K
$313âī13.8K
64.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049āļŋ67.0K
$1,012âī44.6K
102.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,523āļŋ49.8K
$762âī33.6K
99.88%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Truskavets
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635āļŋ20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
17.5
-71.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Last update for Truskavets: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $263 in Truskavets. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Truskavets. Groceries tell a different story â $243 in Chiang Mai vs $128 in Truskavets â so Truskavets 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 Truskavets: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
Chiang Mai costs about 34% more than Truskavets, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Truskavets?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $954 in Truskavets. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Truskavets, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai vs Truskavets?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $24.00 in Truskavets. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
Groceries cost about 91% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $636 in Truskavets, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Truskavets costs $636 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Truskavets?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Truskavets?
If budget matters most, go with Truskavets. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared