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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,551 in Turgi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $5,359 in Turgi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $7,168 in Turgi, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 76% cheaper than Turgi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 36% below the global median, while Turgi is 165% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$37.38 CHF 29.57

-94.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$139 CHF 110

-86.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$15.70 CHF 12.42

-49.55%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$6.51 CHF 5.15

-70.66%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$5.34 CHF 4.22

-84.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$4.29 CHF 3.40

-91.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$8.50 CHF 6.73

-74.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$7.21 CHF 5.70

-47.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$2.32 CHF 1.83

-29.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$3.44 CHF 2.72

-52.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.29 CHF 1.81

-48.47%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$5.44 CHF 4.30

-63.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$31.04 CHF 24.56

-48.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$35.48 CHF 28.07

-91.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$50.6 CHF 40.06

-78.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.37 CHF 1.87

10.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$2.33 CHF 1.84

-47.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.88 CHF 2.28

-40.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$2.26 CHF 1.79

-30.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$2.46 CHF 1.95

-46.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$2.29 CHF 1.82

-48.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$2.65 CHF 2.10

-74.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$1.28 CHF 1.02

-56.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.66 CHF 3.69

-2.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$7.22 CHF 5.71

152.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.25 CHF 1.78

-18.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.28 CHF 1.80

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$3.88 CHF 3.07

-77.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$99.5 CHF 78.7

-80.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$8.14 CHF 6.44

-83.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$4.52 CHF 3.58

-70.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$88.0 CHF 69.6

-90.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$2.13 CHF 1.68

-40.38%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$40.7K CHF 32.2K

-47.97%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$43.0K CHF 34.0K

-47.73%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$252 CHF 199

-72.11%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$73.3 CHF 58.0

-81.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$55.4 CHF 43.79

-68.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$86.7 CHF 68.6

-52.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$22.48 CHF 17.78

-74.29%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$2,914 CHF 2,305

-89.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$42.9K CHF 33.9K

-65.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$138 CHF 109

-60.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$77.2 CHF 61.0

-66.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$133 CHF 105

-36.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$162 CHF 128

-57.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$1,702 CHF 1,346

-75.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$1,446 CHF 1,143

-83.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$2,787 CHF 2,204

-70.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$2,448 CHF 1,936

-78.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$14.8K CHF 11.7K

-86.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$10.9K CHF 8,597

-85.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.5

100.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Turgi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $1,702 in Turgi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $139 in Turgi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $628 – 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 Turgi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Turgi costs about 317% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $5,327 in Turgi. 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 $2,914 in Turgi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 158% more in Turgi, 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 Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Turgi at $3,551. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Turgi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $3,551 in Turgi. 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, Turgi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.