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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $878 in Tula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,423 in Tula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,969 in Tula, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Tula, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$11.74 ₽992

-82.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$59.7 ₽5,042

-67.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.07 ₽597

-19.80%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.71 ₽313

-51.21%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.53 ₽129

-49.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.82 ₽69.4

-57.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$4.86 ₽411

-54.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.75 ₽401

-20.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.21 ₽102

69.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.98 ₽83.2

54.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.62 ₽137

-13.58%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.86 ₽157

21.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.56 ₽1,146

19.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$6.45 ₽545

-55.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.75 ₽993

-19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.01 ₽170

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.75 ₽148

-37.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.00 ₽169

-19.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$4.04 ₽341

-63.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.85 ₽71.8

50.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.66 ₽56.1

60.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.61 ₽136

-55.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.90 ₽76.2

-41.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.27 ₽277

29.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$11.66 ₽985

56.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.15 ₽96.8

41.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.39 ₽202

21.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.52 ₽43.71

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$1.82 ₽154

-35.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.72 ₽61.0

-19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$10.68 ₽903

-77.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.82 ₽69.5

76.83%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$38.1K ₽3.2M

-44.81%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$38.1K ₽3.2M

-30.72%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$158 ₽13.4K

-59.75%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$8.40 ₽710

53.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$9.63 ₽814

113.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.26 ₽698

-20.34%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$774 ₽65.4K

1.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$25.3K ₽2.1M

-41.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$105 ₽8,883

-47.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$61.7 ₽5,209

-59.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$145 ₽12.2K

-34.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$174 ₽14.7K

-57.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

19.52

-71.47%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tula: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $60.0 in Tula. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $248 – 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 Tula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Tula, 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 $1,317 in Tula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $60.0 in Tula. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tula, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Tula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tula costs $878 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Tula. 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.