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 $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,212 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,720 in Yaguajay, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,228 in Yaguajay, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 22% cheaper than Yaguajay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Chiang Mai and Yaguajay are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Yaguajay 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.3

$6.05 CUP 145

-65.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿656

$18.27 CUP 438

8.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$6.86 CUP 165

-15.60%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.4

$1.28 CUP 30.81

42.97%

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

$0.78 ฿25.61

$1.26 CUP 30.36

-38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.37

$1.07 CUP 25.74

-71.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿77.2

$1.53 CUP 36.75

52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$1.77 CUP 42.48

109.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿67.1

$2.82 CUP 67.6

-28.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.7

$0.78 CUP 18.64

105.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.75

$2.34 CUP 56.1

-39.32%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.9

$3.08 CUP 73.9

-29.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿526

$5.49 CUP 132

189.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿102

$5.24 CUP 126

-41.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿326

$12.03 CUP 289

-17.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.8

$4.93 CUP 118

-46.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.19

$1.08 CUP 25.93

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.8

$1.33 CUP 31.87

22.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.6

$1.34 CUP 32.14

14.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿41.13

$1.85 CUP 44.47

-32.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.37

$2.77 CUP 66.4

-59.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.38

$1.01 CUP 24.32

-26.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.48

$1.12 CUP 26.99

-55.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.60 CUP 86.5

18.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿594

$9.82 CUP 236

82.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿56.1

$1.78 CUP 42.70

-4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.7

$1.89 CUP 45.41

53.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

$0.22 CUP 5.23

327.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

$20.15 CUP 484

174.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.76

$1.95 CUP 46.76

-36.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.66

$0.41 CUP 9.91

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.3

$20.05 CUP 481

-88.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.55

$1.24 CUP 29.67

16.13%

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

$21.2K ฿700.2K

$68.1K CUP 1.6M

-68.89%

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

$27.3K ฿902.1K

$74.7K CUP 1.8M

-63.46%

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

$64.9 ฿2,145

$35.02 CUP 840

85.41%

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

$13.35 ฿441

$40.42 CUP 970

-66.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿688

$248 CUP 5,947

-91.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

$40.35 CUP 968

0.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

$14.84 CUP 356

-73.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿222

$1.02 CUP 24.44

557.84%

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

$787 ฿26.0K

$114 CUP 2,737

590.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿499.6K

$11.1K CUP 267.1K

35.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,858

$39.36 CUP 945

42.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿824

$30.24 CUP 726

-17.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,063

$75.5 CUP 1,811

22.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,482

$79.2 CUP 1,900

-5.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿16.0K

$358 CUP 8,589

35.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,491

$387 CUP 9,292

-25.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿30.1K

$1,027 CUP 24.6K

-11.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$589 CUP 14.1K

-9.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

$393 CUP 9,443

403.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

$336 CUP 8,072

331.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

$53.9 CUP 1,293

1023.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.33

-33.13%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Yaguajay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $358 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 1023% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $18.00 in Yaguajay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 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 27% 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 $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,817 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 $787 per month in Chiang Mai and $114 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 $950, than in Yaguajay at $1,212. 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 $950 versus $1,212 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.