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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,139 in Zepce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,709 in Zepce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,279 in Zepce, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 17% cheaper than Zepce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Zepce are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Zepce 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.10 ฿69.0

$9.96 BAM 16.73

-78.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.84 ฿653

$52.9 BAM 88.9

-62.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.79 ฿191

$11.23 BAM 18.87

-48.44%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.92 BAM 3.23

-4.69%

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

$0.78 ฿25.51

$2.58 BAM 4.33

-69.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.33

$1.67 BAM 2.81

-81.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 ฿76.9

$2.56 BAM 4.29

-8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 ฿122

$3.59 BAM 6.03

3.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ฿66.8

$1.49 BAM 2.50

36.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ฿52.5

$1.26 BAM 2.12

26.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.57

$1.68 BAM 2.82

-15.48%

Eggs

$2.18 ฿71.6

$2.92 BAM 4.91

-25.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.91 ฿523

$10.04 BAM 16.86

58.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ฿101

$8.82 BAM 14.82

-65.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ฿325

$14.33 BAM 24.08

-31.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿86.4

$1.91 BAM 3.20

37.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$1.99 BAM 3.34

-44.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿53.6

$2.30 BAM 3.87

-29.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.4

$1.75 BAM 2.93

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ฿40.97

$1.05 BAM 1.77

18.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ฿37.22

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-19.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ฿24.29

$1.17 BAM 1.97

-36.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.42

$0.88 BAM 1.47

-43.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 ฿141

$3.94 BAM 6.62

8.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.97 ฿591

$8.21 BAM 13.78

118.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ฿55.9

$1.04 BAM 1.75

63.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿95.3

$1.40 BAM 2.36

107.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.00

$1.35 BAM 2.26

-30.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,820

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.60

$1.80 BAM 3.02

-31.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.59

$1.17 BAM 1.96

-54.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 ฿79.0

$18.02 BAM 30.27

-86.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ฿47.37

$1.68 BAM 2.82

-14.29%

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

$21.2K ฿697.5K

$31.0K BAM 52.1K

-31.67%

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

$27.3K ฿898.6K

$22.0K BAM 36.9K

24.20%

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

$64.9 ฿2,137

$165 BAM 276

-60.54%

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

$13.35 ฿439

$16.96 BAM 28.49

-21.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.83 ฿686

$37.72 BAM 63.4

-44.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,330

$34.03 BAM 57.2

18.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

$11.97 BAM 20.11

-67.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 ฿221

$3.00 BAM 5.03

123.67%

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

$787 ฿25.9K

$299 BAM 503

163.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ฿497.7K

$3,694 BAM 6,204

309.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,850

$84.7 BAM 142

-33.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.95 ฿821

$37.39 BAM 62.8

-33.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 ฿3,051

$111 BAM 187

-16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ฿2,472

$147 BAM 247

-48.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

$361 BAM 607

33.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ฿9,454

$258 BAM 434

11.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

$537 BAM 902

69.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ฿17.5K

$379 BAM 636

40.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.2K

$2,538 BAM 4,263

-21.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.8K

$1,846 BAM 3,101

-21.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.44

25.45%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zepce: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $484 in Chiang Mai versus $361 in Zepce. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Zepce. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $248 – making Chiang Mai 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 Zepce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zepce costs about 20% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,709 in Zepce. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $53.0 in Zepce. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Zepce, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Zepce at $1,139. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zepce it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,139 in Zepce. 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, Zepce makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.