🙂A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,068 in Yalova, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,643 in Yalova, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,219 in Yalova, rent included.
🙂Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Yalova, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Yalova are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai35% lower, Yalova21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98฿64.3
$7.46₺345
-73.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80฿612
$27.14₺1,256
-30.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.75฿252
$7.56₺350
2.51%
Cappuccino
$1.92฿62.5
$3.25₺150
-40.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79฿25.79
$1.36₺62.8
-41.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.62
$0.53₺24.55
-32.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21฿72.1
$4.75₺220
-53.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$6.18₺286
-40.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿53.8
$0.86₺39.60
91.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63฿53.2
$0.80₺36.83
103.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19฿38.86
$1.17₺54.2
1.71%
Eggs
$2.00฿65.1
$1.92₺89.0
4.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.98฿520
$3.89₺180
310.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿98.5
$3.01₺139
0.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86฿354
$17.45₺807
-37.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76฿90.0
$0.87₺40.22
217.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18฿38.42
$2.33₺108
-49.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.12₺52.0
46.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.51
$1.25₺57.9
21.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38฿45.10
$0.74₺34.46
86.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19฿38.84
$0.74₺34.34
60.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿22.86
$0.88₺40.50
-20.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.13
$0.58₺26.66
-3.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58฿149
$2.26₺105
102.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.56฿539
$12.77₺591
29.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.5
$2.64₺122
-30.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20฿104
$3.34₺154
-4.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.56
$0.66₺30.63
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.72฿610
$30.81₺1,425
-39.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.16
$2.12₺98.2
-35.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.34฿43.65
$0.60₺27.74
123.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84฿256
$7.65₺354
2.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿39.92
$1.20₺55.4
2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K฿704.3K
$47.4K₺2.2M
-54.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K฿734.3K
$48.7K₺2.3M
-53.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.5฿2,298
$37.86₺1,751
86.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68฿445
$12.55₺581
9.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45฿568
$12.43₺575
40.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33฿1,346
$42.60₺1,971
-2.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96฿227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77฿188
$4.94₺228
16.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307฿10.0K
$650₺30.1K
-52.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿475.9K
$7,692₺355.8K
89.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8฿1,817
$51.4₺2,375
8.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21฿854
$75.5₺3,491
-65.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8฿2,793
$113₺5,245
-24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2฿2,353
$90.7₺4,194
-20.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430฿14.0K
$504₺23.3K
-14.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239฿7,774
$398₺18.4K
-40.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$817฿26.6K
$902₺41.7K
-9.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511฿16.6K
$722₺33.4K
-29.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,983฿64.6K
$1,283₺59.4K
54.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,484฿48.3K
$947₺43.8K
56.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Yalova
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$619฿20.2K
$1,309₺60.6K
-52.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
36.83
-86.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Last update for Yalova: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $504 in Yalova. 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 112% higher in Yalova, 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 $27.00 in Yalova. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $197 in Yalova – so Yalova wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yalova: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Yalova?
Yalova costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai vs Yalova?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,602 in Yalova. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Yalova?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and Yalova?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $650 in Yalova. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or Yalova?
Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Yalova – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Yalova?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Yalova at $1,068. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yalova it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Yalova?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,068 in Yalova. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Yalova?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Yalova?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yalova makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared