Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Vung Tau

For one person, living is cheaper in Vung Tau: $608 a month against $938 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
30

Cost of Living Index in Vung Tau
Learn more

Vung Tau Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$938

/mo nomad

Vung Tau

🇻🇳 Vietnam

$608

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Vung Tau

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 Vung Tau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $938 per month in Chiang Mai vs $608 in Vung Tau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $938
Vung Tau $608

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,015 in Vung Tau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,426
Vung Tau $1,015

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,423 in Vung Tau, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,914
Vung Tau $1,423

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Vung Tau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Vung Tau are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 30% lower, Vung Tau 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.95 ₫50.5K

15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.18 ฿641

$15.66 ₫405.5K

22.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ฿187

$3.75 ₫97.0K

49.07%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ฿57.6

$1.84 ₫47.6K

-6.52%

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

$0.64 ฿21.54

$0.41 ₫10.6K

56.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿11.18

$0.33 ₫8,662

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿78.7

$0.78 ₫20.2K

202.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ฿130

$1.01 ₫26.3K

286.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.6

$1.40 ₫36.3K

46.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿46.70

$1.11 ₫28.7K

26.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.89

$0.89 ₫23.1K

43.82%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.3

$1.65 ₫42.8K

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.94 ฿566

$4.79 ₫124.0K

253.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 ฿91.6

$3.60 ₫93.1K

-23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ฿313

$9.44 ₫244.4K

-0.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ฿80.3

$3.06 ₫79.3K

-21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ฿33.92

$1.24 ₫32.1K

-18.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.9

$0.63 ₫16.3K

155.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.29 ₫33.5K

17.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.90

$1.15 ₫29.8K

11.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ฿37.22

$1.19 ₫30.8K

-6.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿24.09

$0.60 ₫15.7K

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.54

$0.43 ₫11.0K

20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$1.20 ₫31.1K

260.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.73 ฿593

$12.74 ₫329.7K

39.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.81 ₫21.1K

101.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ฿95.3

$1.01 ₫26.2K

182.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 ฿28.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,801

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.18

$0.70 ₫18.1K

67.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ฿19.00

$0.59 ₫15.3K

-3.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ฿79.2

$1.15 ₫29.7K

106.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.80 ₫20.7K

81.25%

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

$20.5K ฿684.3K

$30.2K ₫782.2M

-32.23%

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

$26.5K ฿886.1K

$31.4K ₫811.9M

-15.46%

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

$62.3 ฿2,083

$46.69 ₫1.2M

33.50%

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

$12.27 ฿410

$5.90 ₫152.7K

107.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.97 ฿668

$7.99 ₫206.9K

149.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.91 ฿1,267

$17.04 ₫441.1K

122.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.76 ฿126

$9.41 ₫243.6K

-60.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿224

$3.54 ₫91.6K

89.55%

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

$797 ฿26.6K

$117 ₫3.0M

582.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿495.7K

$9,586 ₫248.2M

54.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ฿1,780

$21.13 ₫547.1K

152.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.05 ฿837

$18.89 ₫489.1K

32.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.6 ฿3,062

$92.2 ₫2.4M

-0.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ฿2,455

$67.9 ₫1.8M

8.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 ฿15.5K

$304 ₫7.9M

52.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 ฿10.2K

$199 ₫5.2M

53.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 ฿30.6K

$752 ₫19.5M

21.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.5K

$504 ₫13.0M

9.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ฿63.9K

$7,301 ₫189.0M

-73.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 ฿48.1K

$4,367 ₫113.1M

-67.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$572 ₫14.8M

4.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.64

-35.53%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 13, 2026

Last update for Vung Tau: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$305 32.5%

Vung Tau

$199 32.7% 34.7% $106

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$238 25.4%

Vung Tau

$173 28.4% 27.5% $65

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$110 11.7%

Vung Tau

$90 14.8% 17.8% $19

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$95 10.1%

Vung Tau

$61 10% 35.9% $34

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$79 8.4%

Vung Tau

$58 9.5% 26.8% $21

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.5%

Vung Tau

$3.7 * 0.6% 94% $58

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$51 5.5%

Vung Tau

$24 4% 53% $27

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Chiang Mai versus $304 in Vung Tau. 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 4% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $16.00 in Vung Tau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $173 – making Vung Tau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇻🇳 Vung Tau

🕒 Local time

08:45 8:45 AM

Same time as Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

380,000

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Vietnamese Dong VND ₫

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100,000 VND = 3.86 USD

100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Vung Tau 1,280 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Vung Tau

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 Vung Tau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 54% more than Vung Tau, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,408 per month in Chiang Mai and $912 in Vung Tau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Vung Tau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $16.00 in Vung Tau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vung Tau, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Chiang Mai at $938. In Vung Tau 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. Vung Tau costs $608 versus $938 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 Vung Tau. 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.