Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yaguajay Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Yaguajay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,204 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,691 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,179 in Yaguajay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Yaguajay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Yaguajay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Yaguajay 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.4

$5.99 CUP 144

-65.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿626

$17.97 CUP 431

4.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿263

$6.90 CUP 166

13.91%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.9

$1.28 CUP 30.62

58.59%

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

$0.80 ฿26.71

$1.23 CUP 29.53

-34.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.71

$1.11 CUP 26.66

-68.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

$1.47 CUP 35.19

45.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

$1.70 CUP 40.83

115.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.8

$2.98 CUP 71.5

-41.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.5

$0.77 CUP 18.46

103.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.10

$2.37 CUP 56.8

-49.37%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿66.0

$3.03 CUP 72.6

-34.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿543

$5.46 CUP 131

197.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$5.23 CUP 125

-41.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

$11.88 CUP 285

-9.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.6

$4.80 CUP 115

-42.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.05

$1.13 CUP 27.03

3.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.1

$1.27 CUP 30.46

34.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.32 CUP 31.79

20.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.63

$1.83 CUP 43.97

-24.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.67

$2.79 CUP 66.9

-58.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.11

$0.97 CUP 23.34

-31.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.35

$1.09 CUP 26.09

-52.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$3.45 CUP 82.8

34.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿595

$10.16 CUP 244

75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

$1.78 CUP 42.69

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

$1.97 CUP 47.39

69.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.35

$0.21 CUP 5.14

333.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

$19.78 CUP 475

-5.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.17

$1.97 CUP 47.24

-28.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.82

$0.41 CUP 9.88

226.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

$20.39 CUP 489

-60.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.27

$1.26 CUP 30.25

-2.38%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

$68.7K CUP 1.6M

-68.78%

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

$21.8K ฿730.0K

$74.9K CUP 1.8M

-70.86%

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

$71.3 ฿2,386

$35.63 CUP 855

100.20%

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

$14.01 ฿469

$40.20 CUP 965

-65.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿600

$246 CUP 5,901

-92.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,365

$40.53 CUP 973

0.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$15.13 CUP 363

-54.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$1.01 CUP 24.32

466.34%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$115 CUP 2,769

167.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

$11.3K CUP 271.8K

29.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

$40.67 CUP 976

37.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

$29.44 CUP 707

-11.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

$73.8 CUP 1,771

14.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

$79.6 CUP 1,910

-10.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

$360 CUP 8,634

17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

$386 CUP 9,255

-37.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

$1,020 CUP 24.5K

-21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

$604 CUP 14.5K

-16.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

$388 CUP 9,317

394.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

$347 CUP 8,320

322.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$53.7 CUP 1,289

1008.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

-39.98%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Last update for Yaguajay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $360 in Yaguajay. 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 1008% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Yaguajay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $241 – making Yaguajay the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Yaguajay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yaguajay costs about 41% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,805 in Yaguajay. 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $115 in Yaguajay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Yaguajay – 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 Yaguajay at $1,204. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yaguajay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,204 in Yaguajay. 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, Yaguajay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.