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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,008 in Zepce, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,530 in Zepce, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,053 in Zepce, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Zepce, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Zepce are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Zepce 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$8.64 BAM 14.51

-77.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$41.42 BAM 69.6

-55.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$9.03 BAM 15.17

-13.40%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.57 BAM 2.64

24.20%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$1.94 BAM 3.25

-56.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$1.15 BAM 1.94

-69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$2.10 BAM 3.53

1.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.78 BAM 4.66

34.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.34 BAM 2.26

27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.27 BAM 2.14

28.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.56 BAM 2.63

-26.92%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$3.00 BAM 5.04

-35.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.35 BAM 15.72

73.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$8.56 BAM 14.39

-63.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$12.10 BAM 20.33

-9.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$1.43 BAM 2.40

92.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.63 BAM 2.74

-25.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.94 BAM 3.26

-16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.02 BAM 3.39

-21.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.20 BAM 2.02

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.27 BAM 2.13

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.22 BAM 2.05

-45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.77 BAM 1.29

-31.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$3.77 BAM 6.33

24.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.24 BAM 13.85

126.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.71 BAM 1.19

153.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.14 BAM 1.91

183.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$1.76 BAM 2.95

-48.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$35.83 BAM 60.2

-46.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.50 BAM 2.52

-6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.15 BAM 1.94

12.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$8.77 BAM 14.74

-10.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-13.61%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$28.7K BAM 48.2K

-25.83%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

-15.78%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$169 BAM 284

-59.14%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$18.80 BAM 31.59

-25.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$23.60 BAM 39.66

-23.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.62 BAM 49.76

38.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$11.09 BAM 18.64

-37.24%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.90 BAM 4.87

104.14%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$240 BAM 404

24.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$3,688 BAM 6,196

305.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$74.5 BAM 125

-26.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$37.25 BAM 62.6

-28.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$89.6 BAM 151

-5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$123 BAM 206

-42.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$259 BAM 436

65.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$166 BAM 280

42.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$361 BAM 607

121.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$320 BAM 538

61.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$2,375 BAM 3,991

-16.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,822 BAM 3,061

-19.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

-0.40%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zepce: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $259 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $41.00 in Zepce. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $229 in Zepce – so Zepce 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 Zepce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zepce costs about 16% 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,512 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.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $240 in Zepce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Zepce – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $1,008 in Zepce, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,008 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.