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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $321 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $687 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,053 in Yona, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Yona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Yona are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Yona 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.8

$20.17 $20.17

-90.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿611

$80.6 $80.6

-76.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$11.97 $11.97

-34.67%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿64.1

$6.06 $6.06

-67.82%

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

$0.85 ฿27.90

$2.04 $2.04

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.64

$1.54 $1.54

-77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.9

$4.90 $4.90

-56.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$6.80 $6.80

-45.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.32

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿532

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿357

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.70

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.2

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.91

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.70

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿154

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.39

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿46.13

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿257

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.77

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

$21.3K ฿698.1K

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

$22.2K ฿728.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

-7.06%

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

$69.1 ฿2,266

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

$14.08 ฿462

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿591

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,347

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿228

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿194

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

$299 ฿9,811

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿490.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,795

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿878

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,316

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,787

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.3K

$3,206 $3,206

-80.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yona: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 419% higher in Yona, 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 $81.0 in Yona. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 170% more than Yona, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $482 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $866 in Chiang Mai and $321 in Yona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $81.0 in Yona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $321 in Yona, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yona costs $321 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Yona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.