Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulu Tiram Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Ulu Tiram

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $858 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,305 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,753 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$3.64 MYR 14.40

-46.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$18.66 MYR 73.7

0.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$4.67 MYR 18.43

69.59%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$2.77 MYR 10.96

-31.05%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.68 MYR 2.67

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.36 MYR 1.44

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$4.14 MYR 16.35

-46.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$6.79 MYR 26.83

-44.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.82 MYR 7.19

-9.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.93 MYR 3.69

74.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.29 MYR 5.10

-8.53%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$1.82 MYR 7.19

10.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$10.47 MYR 41.36

51.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$4.02 MYR 15.88

-25.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.20 MYR 32.38

31.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.66 MYR 10.51

-1.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.46 MYR 5.75

-16.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$2.53 MYR 10.00

-32.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.21 MYR 4.78

30.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.19 MYR 4.69

10.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.33 MYR 5.24

-12.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$0.94 MYR 3.71

-28.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$4.32 MYR 17.05

4.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$17.69 MYR 69.9

2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$2.86 MYR 11.29

-36.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.98 MYR 11.77

8.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$0.74 MYR 2.93

20.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$11.64 MYR 45.98

66.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$0.98 MYR 3.88

37.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.03 MYR 4.06

31.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$9.10 MYR 35.96

-9.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.50 MYR 1.99

154.00%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

-39.36%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$32.5K MYR 128.4K

-30.80%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$45.15 MYR 178

55.37%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$9.24 MYR 36.51

49.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$30.92 MYR 122

-43.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$37.34 MYR 148

11.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$6.02 MYR 23.77

9.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$5.03 MYR 19.88

14.91%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$187 MYR 739

63.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,993 MYR 27.6K

112.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$65.2 MYR 258

-16.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$19.07 MYR 75.3

37.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$69.5 MYR 275

21.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$46.25 MYR 183

50.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$390 MYR 1,540

8.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$268 MYR 1,059

-11.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$636 MYR 2,513

29.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$472 MYR 1,866

9.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$1,753 MYR 6,925

16.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$904 MYR 3,572

68.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$871 MYR 3,440

-27.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

22.85%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $390 in Ulu Tiram. 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 37% higher in Ulu Tiram, 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 $19.00 in Ulu Tiram. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $227 in Ulu Tiram – so Ulu Tiram 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 Ulu Tiram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulu Tiram costs about 1% 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 $1,287 in Ulu Tiram. 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 $187 in Ulu Tiram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Ulu Tiram – 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 $858 in Ulu Tiram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $858 in Ulu Tiram. 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, Ulu Tiram makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.