Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vieux Fort Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vieux Fort

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $104 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $160 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $215 in Vieux Fort, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 810% more than Vieux Fort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Vieux Fort are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Vieux Fort 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.5

$8.21 EC$22.16

-74.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$9.38 EC$25.33

-39.77%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.3

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

$0.71 ฿23.44

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$1.18 EC$3.18

-72.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.38

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.92

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿534

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.72

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.96

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.05

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.42

$1.46 EC$3.95

-36.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,770

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.58

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.42

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

$21.4K ฿704.9K

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

$27.3K ฿898.5K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿836

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,414

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,510

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Vieux Fort: September 1, 2026

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 Vieux Fort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 810% more than Vieux Fort, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $156 in Vieux Fort. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vieux Fort, where all-in costs run around $104, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Vieux Fort it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vieux Fort costs $104 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. 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 Vieux Fort. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.