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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,117 in Tula, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,752 in Tula, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,386 in Tula, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 24% cheaper than Tula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Tula are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Tula 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$12.78 ₽960

-84.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$56.7 ₽4,259

-66.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$6.49 ₽487

22.03%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.97 ₽148

-3.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$1.44 ₽108

-41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.64 ₽47.97

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$2.00 ₽150

10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$3.09 ₽232

22.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.28 ₽96.2

28.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.65 ₽48.90

149.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.68 ₽126

-29.76%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.91 ₽143

5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$12.72 ₽955

24.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.31 ₽399

-43.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$5.34 ₽401

101.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$1.94 ₽146

34.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.11 ₽159

-42.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.87 ₽140

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.74 ₽206

-42.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$0.99 ₽74.0

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$0.78 ₽58.8

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.64 ₽123

-59.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.81 ₽60.6

-30.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.49 ₽187

81.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$8.09 ₽608

124.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$1.03 ₽77.5

77.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.05 ₽78.5

207.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.48 ₽35.79

85.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$17.97 ₽1,350

7.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$1.36 ₽102

-0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$0.30 ₽22.41

350.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$8.01 ₽601

3.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.76 ₽56.8

67.11%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$23.2K ₽1.7M

-8.62%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$30.3K ₽2.3M

-25.86%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$152 ₽11.5K

-54.00%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$8.03 ₽603

71.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$7.97 ₽598

120.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$16.95 ₽1,273

145.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$19.44 ₽1,460

-66.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$6.28 ₽472

-7.96%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$712 ₽53.5K

-57.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$14.6K ₽1.1M

1.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$88.8 ₽6,671

-38.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$52.2 ₽3,917

-49.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$131 ₽9,825

-35.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$161 ₽12.1K

-56.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$385 ₽28.9K

10.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$317 ₽23.8K

-24.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$707 ₽53.1K

16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$576 ₽43.3K

-10.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,993 ₽149.7K

2.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,186 ₽89.1K

28.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$1,015 ₽76.2K

-37.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.86

-66.35%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tula: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $385 in Tula. 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 60% higher in Tula, 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 $57.0 in Tula. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $202 in Tula – so Tula 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 Tula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tula costs about 31% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,675 in Tula. 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 $712 in Tula. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Tula – 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 $1,117 in Tula, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,117 in Tula. 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, Tula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.