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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,219 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,697 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,174 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 35% lower, Yaguajay 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$6.10 CUP 147

-67.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$17.82 CUP 428

5.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$7.08 CUP 170

9.46%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.32 CUP 31.79

45.45%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$1.23 CUP 29.60

-35.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.09 CUP 26.13

-66.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.54 CUP 36.89

43.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.80 CUP 43.10

103.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$2.87 CUP 69.0

-42.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$0.82 CUP 19.65

98.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$2.42 CUP 58.0

-50.83%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.02 CUP 72.5

-33.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$5.43 CUP 130

194.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$5.16 CUP 124

-41.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$12.03 CUP 289

-9.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$4.77 CUP 115

-42.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.08 CUP 25.80

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.26 CUP 30.30

30.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.33 CUP 31.93

14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.77 CUP 42.49

-22.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.74 CUP 65.7

-56.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.98 CUP 23.60

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.09 CUP 26.07

-48.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$3.47 CUP 83.3

31.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$10.15 CUP 244

63.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.78 CUP 42.84

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.89 CUP 45.42

69.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.17 CUP 4.10

417.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$20.40 CUP 490

-8.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.05 CUP 49.31

-33.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.41 CUP 9.85

226.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$19.84 CUP 476

-60.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.27 CUP 30.40

-3.15%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$66.6K CUP 1.6M

-67.55%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$73.8K CUP 1.8M

-69.46%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$34.60 CUP 830

103.87%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$39.96 CUP 959

-65.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$249 CUP 5,968

-92.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$39.38 CUP 945

4.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$14.78 CUP 355

-52.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$1.02 CUP 24.46

465.69%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$117 CUP 2,801

163.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$11.2K CUP 269.4K

30.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$39.62 CUP 951

40.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$29.97 CUP 719

-12.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$76.3 CUP 1,831

12.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$78.7 CUP 1,889

-8.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$369 CUP 8,868

16.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$384 CUP 9,212

-37.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,009 CUP 24.2K

-19.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$606 CUP 14.5K

-15.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$391 CUP 9,387

407.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$347 CUP 8,320

328.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$53.3 CUP 1,279

1061.23%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Yaguajay: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $369 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 1061% 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: $241 vs $240 – 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 40% 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 $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,828 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 $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $117 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 $869, than in Yaguajay at $1,219. 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 $869 versus $1,219 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.