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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,236 in Umluj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,857 in Umluj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,477 in Umluj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Umluj, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Umluj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Umluj 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$6.46 SAR 24.25

-69.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$43.78 SAR 164

-57.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.10 SAR 30.41

-4.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.73 SAR 13.99

-48.53%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.75 SAR 2.80

5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.29 SAR 1.09

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.01 SAR 3.78

61.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-50.21%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.41 SAR 9.04

-17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.97 SAR 26.16

129.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$7.64 SAR 28.68

-60.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$12.95 SAR 48.61

-16.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.19 SAR 8.22

26.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.58 SAR 5.92

-25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.76 SAR 6.60

-6.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.57 SAR 5.89

-3.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.24 SAR 4.65

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.26 SAR 4.74

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.18 SAR 4.44

-40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.55 SAR 2.07

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.04 SAR 11.42

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$6.97 SAR 26.17

-34.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$40.18 SAR 151

-53.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.67 SAR 10.04

-49.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.81 SAR 6.81

-25.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$13.38 SAR 50.2

-41.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$0.59 SAR 2.22

108.47%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$26.3K SAR 98.9K

-17.93%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$22.8K SAR 85.4K

-0.93%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$105 SAR 394

-32.79%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$33.65 SAR 126

-59.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$73.2 SAR 275

-76.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$87.1 SAR 327

-52.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$35.68 SAR 134

-80.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$15.42 SAR 57.9

-62.58%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$353 SAR 1,324

-12.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$6,979 SAR 26.2K

109.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$60.3 SAR 226

-7.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$60.4 SAR 226

-56.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$79.1 SAR 297

8.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$82.0 SAR 308

-11.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$436 SAR 1,635

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$376 SAR 1,412

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$868 SAR 3,258

-5.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$618 SAR 2,319

-17.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$2,334 SAR 8,758

-15.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$1,193 SAR 4,476

24.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$4,301 SAR 16.1K

-85.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

13.12%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Umluj: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $436 in Umluj. 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 595% higher in Umluj, 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 $44.00 in Umluj. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Umluj – so Umluj 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 Umluj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Umluj costs about 42% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,854 in Umluj. 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $353 in Umluj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Umluj – 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 $869, than in Umluj at $1,236. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Umluj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,236 in Umluj. 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, Umluj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.