Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tuy Hoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Tuy Hoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $920 per month in Chiang Mai vs $739 in Tuy Hoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,184 in Tuy Hoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,628 in Tuy Hoa, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Tuy Hoa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Tuy Hoa are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 33% lower, Tuy Hoa 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.11 ฿69.1

$2.70 ₫70.5K

-21.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ฿648

$22.64 ₫590.9K

-12.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 ฿192

$4.64 ₫121.2K

26.08%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.62 ₫42.3K

8.64%

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

$0.74 ฿24.37

$0.38 ₫9,864

94.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.90

$0.23 ₫6,025

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 ฿81.0

$0.58 ₫15.2K

325.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ฿127

$1.25 ₫32.6K

210.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ฿62.4

$1.47 ₫38.4K

29.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ฿54.7

$0.48 ₫12.6K

247.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ฿44.24

$0.98 ₫25.5K

37.76%

Eggs

$2.14 ฿70.2

$1.42 ₫37.1K

50.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿521

$12.18 ₫317.8K

30.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ฿92.9

$3.05 ₫79.5K

-7.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ฿345

$11.27 ₫294.1K

-6.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ฿78.2

$1.85 ₫48.4K

28.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.01

$0.77 ₫20.0K

38.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.79

$1.09 ₫28.5K

39.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿49.30

$1.16 ₫30.3K

29.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$0.81 ₫21.1K

58.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.17

$0.67 ₫17.5K

64.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ฿22.54

$0.73 ₫19.1K

-5.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.18

$0.41 ₫10.7K

19.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$1.55 ₫40.5K

175.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.78 ฿550

$11.61 ₫302.9K

44.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ฿54.4

$0.61 ₫15.9K

172.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿92.3

$1.81 ₫47.3K

55.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.44

$0.31 ₫8,044

190.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,801

$6.65 ₫173.5K

725.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ฿39.24

$0.60 ₫15.5K

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ฿17.78

$0.55 ₫14.4K

-1.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿77.9

$2.35 ₫61.2K

0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿46.88

$0.86 ₫22.5K

66.28%

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

$21.1K ฿691.5K

$31.1K ₫811.4M

-32.20%

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

$27.1K ฿890.2K

$27.3K ₫713.1M

-0.70%

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

$64.7 ฿2,124

$75.0 ₫2.0M

-13.66%

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

$13.19 ฿433

$6.58 ₫171.7K

100.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 ฿638

$9.03 ₫235.8K

115.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.45 ฿1,294

$22.33 ₫582.7K

76.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿124

$7.79 ₫203.3K

-51.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.62 ฿217

$1.93 ₫50.3K

243.01%

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

$805 ฿26.4K

$290 ₫7.6M

177.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿496.1K

$3,836 ₫100.1M

294.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.8 ฿1,796

$40.62 ₫1.1M

34.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 ฿834

$26.87 ₫701.3K

-5.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ฿3,015

$49.42 ₫1.3M

85.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 ฿2,449

$82.0 ₫2.1M

-9.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ฿15.3K

$407 ₫10.6M

14.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,251

$270 ₫7.0M

4.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.2K

$747 ₫19.5M

19.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.1K

$610 ₫15.9M

-14.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 ฿65.1K

$2,880 ₫75.2M

-31.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,462 ฿48.0K

$1,285 ₫33.5M

13.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.55

-34.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 17, 2026

Last update for Tuy Hoa: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Chiang Mai versus $407 in Tuy Hoa. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $23.00 in Tuy Hoa. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Chiang Mai vs $180 in Tuy Hoa – so Tuy Hoa 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 Tuy Hoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 25% more than Tuy Hoa, 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 $1,380 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,108 in Tuy Hoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tuy Hoa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $805 per month in Chiang Mai and $290 in Tuy Hoa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tuy Hoa, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Chiang Mai at $920. In Tuy Hoa 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. Tuy Hoa costs $739 versus $920 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 Tuy Hoa. 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.