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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,237 in Umluj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,848 in Umluj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,460 in Umluj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 31% cheaper than Umluj, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Umluj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Umluj 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$6.58 SAR 24.68

-70.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$45.36 SAR 170

-58.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$8.21 SAR 30.78

-3.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 SAR 6.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 SAR 6.71

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$3.75 SAR 14.08

-49.07%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.80 SAR 2.99

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.31 SAR 1.18

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.70 SAR 6.37

-3.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$0.95 SAR 3.55

70.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$2.36 SAR 8.86

-50.00%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.48 SAR 9.31

-18.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$6.76 SAR 25.35

135.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$7.32 SAR 27.44

-58.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$13.24 SAR 49.64

-18.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$2.27 SAR 8.51

14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.62 SAR 6.08

-24.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.67 SAR 6.28

1.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.61 SAR 6.03

-1.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.28 SAR 4.81

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.28 SAR 4.81

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.17 SAR 4.40

-42.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.55 SAR 2.07

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.22 SAR 12.07

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.36

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$7.13 SAR 26.75

-36.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.06 SAR 3.97

-16.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$39.24 SAR 147

-50.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-49.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$1.90 SAR 7.13

-28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$13.40 SAR 50.3

-38.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$0.60 SAR 2.24

111.67%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$26.3K SAR 98.7K

-19.58%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

-0.92%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$106 SAR 398

-33.96%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$33.78 SAR 127

-59.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$72.8 SAR 273

-75.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$88.6 SAR 332

-53.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$36.32 SAR 136

-81.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$15.81 SAR 59.3

-63.44%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$350 SAR 1,312

-12.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$6,866 SAR 25.7K

115.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$58.5 SAR 219

-6.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$59.9 SAR 225

-56.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$80.6 SAR 302

4.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$81.3 SAR 305

-14.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$440 SAR 1,649

-3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$388 SAR 1,456

-38.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$861 SAR 3,229

-4.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$633 SAR 2,372

-18.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$2,328 SAR 8,731

-11.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,358 SAR 5,093

12.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$4,303 SAR 16.1K

-85.24%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Umluj: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $440 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 577% 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 $45.00 in Umluj. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $196 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 45% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,855 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $350 in Umluj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% 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 $852, than in Umluj at $1,237. 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 $852 versus $1,237 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.