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 $1,215 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,695 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,175 in Yaguajay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

$5.90 CUP 142

-66.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

$17.69 CUP 425

6.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

$7.01 CUP 168

12.98%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

$1.33 CUP 31.92

43.61%

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

$0.84 ฿27.25

$1.28 CUP 30.62

-34.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

$1.07 CUP 25.76

-67.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

$1.46 CUP 35.02

51.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$1.73 CUP 41.57

119.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$2.86 CUP 68.5

-42.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿52.8

$0.83 CUP 20.02

95.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.40

$2.37 CUP 56.9

-50.21%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.4

$3.07 CUP 73.6

-34.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿517

$5.73 CUP 138

177.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.0

$5.13 CUP 123

-41.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿350

$11.94 CUP 287

-9.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.0

$4.93 CUP 118

-47.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.65

$1.08 CUP 26.00

12.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.4

$1.32 CUP 31.77

28.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.2

$1.33 CUP 31.84

18.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿42.89

$1.75 CUP 42.03

-24.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.01

$2.69 CUP 64.7

-56.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

$1.02 CUP 24.56

-34.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.21

$1.08 CUP 25.89

-48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

$3.56 CUP 85.4

27.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿592

$10.07 CUP 242

80.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

$1.78 CUP 42.77

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.92 CUP 45.97

68.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

$0.19 CUP 4.47

368.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

$20.08 CUP 482

-3.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

$2.02 CUP 48.52

-33.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

$0.41 CUP 9.95

229.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

$19.65 CUP 472

-58.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

$1.23 CUP 29.42

3.25%

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

$21.2K ฿687.8K

$67.1K CUP 1.6M

-68.47%

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

$22.5K ฿731.0K

$76.5K CUP 1.8M

-70.60%

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

$70.2 ฿2,281

$34.84 CUP 836

101.35%

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

$13.77 ฿448

$40.57 CUP 974

-66.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

$254 CUP 6,087

-93.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

$40.72 CUP 977

2.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

$15.01 CUP 360

-56.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

$0.98 CUP 23.50

489.80%

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

$306 ฿9,953

$117 CUP 2,809

161.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

$11.2K CUP 269.7K

31.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

$39.66 CUP 952

37.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

$29.86 CUP 717

-12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

$76.2 CUP 1,829

10.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

$80.0 CUP 1,920

-13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.8K

$366 CUP 8,777

15.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,743

$385 CUP 9,252

-38.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿26.8K

$1,008 CUP 24.2K

-18.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.7K

$604 CUP 14.5K

-14.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿66.6K

$395 CUP 9,479

418.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.5K

$339 CUP 8,127

349.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

$53.4 CUP 1,281

1090.16%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Yaguajay: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $366 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 1090% 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: $243 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 43% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,823 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 $306 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 $852, than in Yaguajay at $1,215. 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 $1,215 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.