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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,168 in Umluj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,752 in Umluj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,336 in Umluj, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Umluj, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Umluj are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Umluj 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$6.71 SAR 25.22

-69.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$36.73 SAR 138

-46.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.07 SAR 30.30

-29.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 SAR 7.87

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.48 SAR 13.06

-47.99%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$0.90 SAR 3.38

-14.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.26 SAR 0.98

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.67 SAR 6.26

22.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.16 SAR 4.34

30.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$2.16 SAR 8.11

-35.19%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-5.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.34 SAR 27.58

120.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$7.99 SAR 30.01

-63.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$12.98 SAR 48.77

-27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$2.08 SAR 7.82

28.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.71 SAR 6.40

-36.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.57 SAR 5.89

3.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$1.63 SAR 6.14

-10.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$1.14 SAR 4.28

12.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$1.30 SAR 4.88

-18.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.14 SAR 4.27

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.55 SAR 2.06

-3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.80

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.81

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.47 SAR 24.30

-34.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$1.05 SAR 3.96

-16.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$35.76 SAR 134

50.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$2.96 SAR 11.14

-60.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-68.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$13.29 SAR 49.91

-82.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$0.65 SAR 2.44

123.08%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$45.8K SAR 172.1K

-54.14%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$21.7K SAR 81.5K

21.82%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$98.6 SAR 371

-35.47%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$32.02 SAR 120

-59.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$68.1 SAR 256

-69.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$84.1 SAR 316

-53.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$37.21 SAR 140

-89.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$13.07 SAR 49.10

-49.66%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$341 SAR 1,279

130.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$6,614 SAR 24.8K

121.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$49.91 SAR 187

10.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$58.3 SAR 219

-57.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$97.0 SAR 364

-2.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$87.9 SAR 330

-15.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$588 SAR 2,210

-16.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$349 SAR 1,311

-17.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$883 SAR 3,315

0.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$553 SAR 2,078

-5.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$2,391 SAR 8,982

-17.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,395 SAR 5,240

3.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$4,205 SAR 15.8K

-85.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.47

1.83%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Umluj: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $588 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 599% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $37.00 in Umluj. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $200 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 25% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,752 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $341 in Umluj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% 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 $932, than in Umluj at $1,168. 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 $932 versus $1,168 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.