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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $341 in Tura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $553 in Tura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $765 in Tura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 178% more than Tura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Tura 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$2.91 ₹275

-28.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$11.70 ₹1,106

67.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$3.09 ₹292

82.85%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

$0.97 ₹91.3

86.60%

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

$0.33 ₹31.41

115.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.12 ₹10.90

166.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

$1.23 ₹116

82.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$1.80 ₹170

101.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.69 ₹65.6

184.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

$0.47 ₹44.28

219.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

$0.51 ₹48.53

162.75%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

$0.96 ₹90.5

135.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

$3.87 ₹365

320.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$3.41 ₹322

-13.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

$2.08 ₹196

23.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

$0.70 ₹66.4

51.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$0.97 ₹91.5

65.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

$0.66 ₹62.8

130.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

$0.32 ₹30.55

296.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

$0.38 ₹35.49

181.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

$0.33 ₹31.37

118.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.27 ₹25.18

88.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$3.61 ₹341

16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

$7.23 ₹684

147.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

$1.63 ₹154

3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

$2.54 ₹240

11.81%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.93 ₹465

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$0.22 ₹20.94

322.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

$7.51 ₹710

617.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

$0.68 ₹64.5

80.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.30 ₹28.67

93.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

$1.03 ₹97.1

134.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

$1.05 ₹99.6

34.29%

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

$12.9K ₹1.2M

66.76%

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

$16.2K ₹1.5M

68.53%

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

$35.62 ₹3,366

78.75%

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

$12.85 ฿423

$3.08 ₹292

317.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$6.49 ₹613

211.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$14.09 ₹1,331

174.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$7.17 ₹678

-44.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$3.21 ₹303

109.97%

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

$778 ฿25.6K

$27.64 ₹2,612

2714.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

$1,269 ₹119.9K

1051.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$15.56 ₹1,471

248.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

$12.40 ₹1,172

105.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

$31.00 ₹2,929

204.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

$26.18 ₹2,474

180.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$125 ₹11.8K

292.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

$74.2 ₹7,008

290.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$267 ₹25.3K

234.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$173 ₹16.3K

198.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

$1,011 ₹95.5K

93.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$470 ₹44.5K

213.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$622 ₹58.8K

-3.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.38

-24.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tura: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $125 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 3% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $12.00 in Tura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $102 – 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

Chiang Mai costs about 178% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $512 in Tura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $27.64 in Tura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tura, where all-in costs run around $341, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Tura 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. Tura costs $341 versus $947 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 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.