Cost of Living Comparison Between Chon Buri and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Chon Buri and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $746 per month in Chon Buri vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,284 per month in Chon Buri vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,821 per month in Chon Buri vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Chon Buri is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chon Buri and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Chon Buri 44% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ฿67.6

$1.96 ฿65.7

2.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.45 ฿619

$18.35 ฿616

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ฿206

$7.48 ฿251

-18.18%

Cappuccino

$1.88 ฿63.2

$2.02 ฿67.7

-6.93%

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

$0.67 ฿22.63

$0.85 ฿28.45

-21.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.13

$0.36 ฿11.94

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 ฿62.8

$2.14 ฿71.7

-12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿128

$3.59 ฿121

5.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿47.24

$1.65 ฿55.4

-14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 ฿47.14

$1.57 ฿52.6

-10.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.48

$1.19 ฿39.95

-10.92%

Eggs

$1.89 ฿63.4

$1.94 ฿65.0

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.59 ฿456

$16.19 ฿544

-16.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.97 ฿66.1

$2.99 ฿100

-34.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 ฿368

$10.94 ฿367

0.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 ฿80.8

$2.71 ฿91.0

-11.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 ฿25.44

$1.17 ฿39.18

-35.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ฿63.1

$1.69 ฿56.6

11.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ฿52.6

$1.60 ฿53.9

-1.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.38 ฿46.45

17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.81

$1.20 ฿40.38

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ฿25.09

$0.67 ฿22.46

11.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 ฿14.30

$0.56 ฿18.70

-23.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿154

$4.64 ฿156

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.42 ฿484

$17.62 ฿591

-18.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 ฿56.1

$1.86 ฿62.4

-10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 ฿118

$3.30 ฿111

6.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿32.36

$0.88 ฿29.63

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 ฿37.24

$1.36 ฿45.82

-18.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ฿24.11

$1.34 ฿44.90

-46.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.50 ฿185

$8.21 ฿276

-33.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿43.68

$1.22 ฿41.11

6.56%

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

$19.9K ฿668.9K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

-6.69%

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

$21.0K ฿703.9K

$22.5K ฿756.3K

-6.93%

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

$73.9 ฿2,481

$70.7 ฿2,372

4.57%

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

$13.29 ฿446

$14.04 ฿471

-5.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.13 ฿609

$17.49 ฿587

3.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 ฿1,685

$42.15 ฿1,415

19.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 ฿405

$6.88 ฿231

75.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.17 ฿106

$5.92 ฿199

-46.45%

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

$138 ฿4,645

$309 ฿10.4K

-55.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿529.2K

$14.9K ฿499.5K

5.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.64 ฿659

$55.8 ฿1,872

-64.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.76 ฿831

$26.11 ฿877

-5.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 ฿2,028

$83.0 ฿2,787

-27.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 ฿1,960

$70.5 ฿2,365

-17.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ฿18.4K

$432 ฿14.5K

27.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 ฿7,320

$239 ฿8,020

-8.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 ฿27.3K

$822 ฿27.6K

-0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 ฿22.2K

$512 ฿17.2K

29.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$791 ฿26.6K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

-46.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 ฿20.1K

$579 ฿19.4K

3.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

23.40%

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

Last update for Chon Buri: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $549 in Chon Buri versus $432 in Chiang Mai. 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 3% higher in Chon Buri, 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 $18.00 in Chon Buri versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $243 – making Chon Buri 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

Chon Buri vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 15% more than Chon Buri, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,120 per month in Chon Buri and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chon Buri, 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 $18.00 in Chon Buri and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Chon Buri, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Chiang Mai at $861. In Chon Buri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chon Buri costs $746 versus $861 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 Chon Buri. 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.