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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $939 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,364 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,789 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 1% cheaper than Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Ulu Tiram are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Ulu Tiram 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.2

$3.74 MYR 15.32

-44.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿652

$21.40 MYR 87.6

-8.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.90 MYR 20.06

15.71%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.0

$2.97 MYR 12.17

-39.06%

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

$0.77 ฿25.55

$0.78 MYR 3.18

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.48

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.6

$4.55 MYR 18.62

-51.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$6.29 MYR 25.75

-39.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.70 MYR 6.97

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.03 MYR 4.22

46.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.51

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-2.78%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$1.75 MYR 7.16

29.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿538

$9.70 MYR 39.69

66.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.3

$4.22 MYR 17.25

-31.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$9.63 MYR 39.40

-2.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.34 MYR 13.67

-19.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.23

$1.75 MYR 7.15

-37.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.66 MYR 10.88

-39.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.55

$1.62 MYR 6.62

-9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.48

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.17

$1.68 MYR 6.89

-36.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.85

$1.38 MYR 5.65

-47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.49

$0.55 MYR 2.26

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.35 MYR 17.81

-2.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿608

$16.96 MYR 69.4

7.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.97 MYR 12.15

-45.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.11 MYR 12.73

-6.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.20

$0.69 MYR 2.81

27.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,788

$12.25 MYR 50.2

338.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿38.99

$1.25 MYR 5.10

-6.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.22

$0.36 MYR 1.46

61.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.3

$9.32 MYR 38.15

-74.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.22

$0.78 MYR 3.18

85.90%

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

$21.0K ฿698.6K

$41.2K MYR 168.6K

-48.99%

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

$26.4K ฿878.6K

$35.0K MYR 143.4K

-24.56%

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

$63.7 ฿2,116

$53.0 MYR 217

20.19%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$8.22 MYR 33.65

56.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿682

$28.97 MYR 119

-29.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,297

$40.66 MYR 166

-4.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$5.89 MYR 24.10

-33.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$4.89 MYR 20.03

34.56%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$166 MYR 680

372.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿487.9K

$4,502 MYR 18.4K

225.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,833

$66.6 MYR 273

-17.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$17.16 MYR 70.2

44.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,130

$77.4 MYR 317

21.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,459

$48.28 MYR 198

53.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$395 MYR 1,617

24.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,582

$299 MYR 1,224

-3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.6K

$686 MYR 2,808

29.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$487 MYR 1,995

6.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.6K

$2,014 MYR 8,244

-2.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.0K

$1,143 MYR 4,678

26.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$853 MYR 3,491

-29.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.06

37.19%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $395 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 42% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $21.00 in Ulu Tiram. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $240 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 Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,408 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $166 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 0% cheaper in Ulu Tiram – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Ulu Tiram at $939. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ulu Tiram it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $939 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.