Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Victoria, Seychelles

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,996 in Victoria, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
96

Cost of Living Index in Victoria
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Victoria Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Victoria

🇸🇨 Seychelles

$1,996

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Victoria

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Victoria actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,996 in Victoria, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Victoria $1,996

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,098 in Victoria, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Victoria $3,098

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,201 in Victoria, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Victoria $4,201

Chiang Mai is about 53% cheaper than Victoria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chiang Mai sits 31% below the global median, while Victoria is 47% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.6

$17.56 SCR 251

-87.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿641

$50.1 SCR 717

-62.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿187

$12.51 SCR 179

-55.64%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.5

$3.82 SCR 54.6

-56.28%

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

$0.64 ฿21.55

$2.24 SCR 31.99

-71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.31

$2.57 SCR 36.72

-87.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$4.04 SCR 57.8

-41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$3.75 SCR 53.7

-2.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.94 SCR 27.71

0.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.48

$1.66 SCR 23.76

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.04

$2.51 SCR 35.90

-47.01%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$3.83 SCR 54.8

-40.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿555

$30.28 SCR 433

-45.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿93.9

$6.19 SCR 88.4

-55.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$12.11 SCR 173

-23.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.4

$2.17 SCR 31.01

8.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.80

$2.67 SCR 38.18

-63.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$2.38 SCR 33.96

-32.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$6.08 SCR 86.9

-75.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.12

$1.96 SCR 27.95

-34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.19

$1.78 SCR 25.38

-38.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.82

$1.52 SCR 21.74

-53.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.37

$1.34 SCR 19.12

-63.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$24.12 SCR 345

-82.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿591

$9.62 SCR 138

82.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$4.30 SCR 61.4

-62.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$5.53 SCR 79.0

-49.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.31

$0.69 SCR 9.93

26.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,826

$42.94 SCR 614

25.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.90

$1.62 SCR 23.16

-10.49%

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

$21.1K ฿710.7K

$26.1K SCR 373.6K

-19.43%

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

$26.9K ฿909.3K

$31.3K SCR 447.2K

-13.88%

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

$62.2 ฿2,098

$137 SCR 1,963

-54.73%

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

$12.17 ฿411

$40.91 SCR 585

-70.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿679

$136 SCR 1,945

-85.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,259

$77.5 SCR 1,108

-51.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$7.62 SCR 109

-50.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$6.97 SCR 99.6

-6.89%

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

$736 ฿24.8K

$141 SCR 2,018

421.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.3K

$8,376 SCR 119.7K

76.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,801

$36.31 SCR 519

46.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿831

$24.19 SCR 346

1.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,087

$90.0 SCR 1,287

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,428

$97.8 SCR 1,398

-26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$918 SCR 13.1K

-47.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$792 SCR 11.3K

-60.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿33.9K

$2,156 SCR 30.8K

-53.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$1,675 SCR 23.9K

-62.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$434 SCR 6,210

443.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.6K

$1,134 SCR 16.2K

40.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$941 SCR 13.5K

-37.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-53.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Victoria: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Victoria

$792 39.7% 156% $483

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Victoria

$370 18.5% 57.7% $135

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Victoria

$112 5.6% 2.8% $3.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Victoria

$314 15.8% 233% $220

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Victoria

$271 13.6% 249% $193

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Victoria

$46 * 2.3% 25.5% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Victoria

$91 4.6% 81.9% $41

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $918 in Victoria. 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 60% higher in Victoria, 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 in Chiang Mai versus $50 in Victoria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $370 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇸🇨 Victoria

🕒 Local time

16:52 4:52 PM

13:52 1:52 PM

3 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

26,450 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Seychellois Rupee SCR ₨

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 SCR = 7 USD

100 SCR = 6.27 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

SCR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Seychellois Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 14.3 SCR (100 SCR = 7 USD). 1 EUR = 15.95 SCR (100 SCR = 6.27 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Victoria 5,430 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Victoria

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria costs about 113% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,993 in Victoria. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $918 in Victoria.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Chiang Mai and $141 in Victoria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Victoria, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,996 in Victoria. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,996 in Victoria. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Victoria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.