😐A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $354 in Tura, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $578 in Tura, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $802 in Tura, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 144% more than Tura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Tura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai36% lower, Tura74% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03฿68.4
$1.38₹133
47.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿631
$14.47₹1,392
29.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84฿264
$3.57₹344
119.61%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿65.0
$1.04₹99.9
85.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83฿28.01
$0.34₹32.42
144.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.81
$0.14₹13.19
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22฿74.8
$1.38₹133
60.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿128
$2.07₹199
83.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.5
$0.75₹72.1
120.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55฿52.3
$0.46₹44.56
236.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿39.82
$0.57₹55.1
107.02%
Eggs
$2.01฿67.9
$0.94₹90.4
113.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.16฿545
$4.62₹445
249.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿102
$3.23₹311
-6.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿365
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿90.3
$1.83₹176
46.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿41.16
$0.69₹66.8
76.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿54.8
$0.94₹90.6
73.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$0.83₹79.8
84.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34฿45.13
$0.31₹30.10
332.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿40.88
$0.38₹36.86
218.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿23.65
$0.36₹35.01
94.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.71
$0.28₹26.92
89.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿158
$3.96₹381
18.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.71฿597
$7.06₹679
150.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85฿62.2
$1.49₹144
24.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21฿108
$2.79₹268
15.05%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.36₹419
-
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿30.03
$0.30₹29.13
196.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.76฿632
$8.92₹859
110.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.43
$0.75₹72.2
88.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿43.54
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79฿263
$1.18₹114
560.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿43.61
$1.16₹111
11.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿733.8K
$14.0K₹1.3M
56.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿731.2K
$18.2K₹1.7M
19.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0฿2,359
$41.10₹3,955
70.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19฿478
$3.50₹337
305.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42฿587
$5.52₹531
215.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.64฿1,404
$15.69₹1,510
165.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89฿232
$7.20₹693
-4.31%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿195
$2.87₹277
101.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300฿10.1K
$32.02₹3,082
836.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5K฿489.5K
$1,380₹132.8K
952.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4฿1,866
$17.26₹1,661
220.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31฿887
$13.74₹1,322
91.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,860
$35.02₹3,370
142.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,376
$29.21₹2,811
141.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425฿14.3K
$126₹12.1K
237.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235฿7,924
$75.0₹7,213
213.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802฿27.0K
$273₹26.3K
194.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$516฿17.4K
$182₹17.5K
183.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,926฿64.9K
$946₹91.0K
103.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿48.9K
$551₹53.0K
163.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Tura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$586฿19.8K
$634₹61.0K
-7.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
7.38
-32.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Last update for Tura: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $123 in Tura. 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 6% higher in Tura, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $15.00 in Tura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $103 – making Tura 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 Tura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Tura?
Chiang Mai costs about 144% more than Tura, 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 and in Tura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $530 in Tura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Tura?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Tura?
Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $32.84 in Tura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Tura?
Groceries cost about 136% 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 $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Tura?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $354 in Tura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Tura?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tura costs $354 versus $861 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 Tura?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Tura?
If budget matters most, go with Tura. 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