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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $835 per month in Cimislia vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Cimislia vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,692 per month in Cimislia vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cimislia is about 1% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cimislia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cimislia 38% lower, Chiang Mai 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.88 MDL 118
$1.95 ฿62.6
252.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29 MDL 400
$18.43 ฿591
26.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.64 MDL 131
$7.50 ฿241
1.87%
Cappuccino
$1.71 MDL 29.33
$1.93 ฿62.0
-11.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MDL 15.78
$0.78 ฿24.98
17.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 MDL 11.94
$0.32 ฿10.38
118.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 MDL 19.83
$2.15 ฿68.9
-46.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 MDL 40.83
$3.71 ฿119
-35.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 MDL 17.72
$1.71 ฿55.0
-39.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 MDL 7.24
$1.56 ฿50.1
-73.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 MDL 25.76
$1.18 ฿37.91
27.12%
Eggs
$2.13 MDL 36.55
$1.98 ฿63.6
7.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 MDL 155
$16.04 ฿515
-43.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 MDL 71.3
$3.17 ฿102
30.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.67 MDL 149
$10.94 ฿351
-20.75%
Apples (1kg)
$0.60 MDL 10.35
$2.63 ฿84.3
-77.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 MDL 30.92
$1.17 ฿37.45
53.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 MDL 25.73
$1.65 ฿52.8
-9.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MDL 35.43
$1.54 ฿49.31
33.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 MDL 10.44
$1.38 ฿44.16
-55.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 MDL 9.47
$1.17 ฿37.39
-52.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 MDL 22.64
$0.66 ฿21.16
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 MDL 14.05
$0.51 ฿16.48
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30 MDL 56.6
$4.52 ฿145
-26.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.52 MDL 77.6
$18.32 ฿588
-75.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 MDL 19.81
$1.80 ฿57.7
-36.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 MDL 34.14
$3.18 ฿102
-37.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 MDL 5.20
$0.90 ฿28.85
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.00 ฿610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 MDL 34.46
$1.41 ฿45.32
42.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 MDL 4.25
$1.31 ฿41.98
-80.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 MDL 88.1
$8.09 ฿260
-36.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MDL 24.70
$1.28 ฿40.92
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K MDL 560.8K
$21.3K ฿683.3K
53.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K MDL 532.6K
$21.7K ฿696.5K
43.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 MDL 2,908
$69.2 ฿2,221
144.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.62 MDL 131
$13.97 ฿448
-45.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.94 MDL 188
$17.95 ฿576
-39.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.20 MDL 295
$42.31 ฿1,358
-59.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66 ฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 MDL 133
$5.92 ฿190
30.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$390 MDL 6,694
$299 ฿9,601
30.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,514 MDL 128.9K
$14.8K ฿476.5K
-49.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 MDL 1,111
$56.2 ฿1,803
15.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 MDL 940
$26.94 ฿864
103.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MDL 1,928
$84.9 ฿2,724
32.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 MDL 2,066
$71.8 ฿2,305
67.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 MDL 4,026
$435 ฿14.0K
-46.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MDL 2,950
$240 ฿7,696
-28.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$347 MDL 5,957
$798 ฿25.6K
-56.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$293 MDL 5,027
$498 ฿16.0K
-41.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$773 MDL 13.3K
$1,995 ฿64.0K
-61.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$702 MDL 12.1K
$1,532 ฿49.2K
-54.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$437 MDL 7,496
$628 ฿20.2K
-30.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
5
84.80%

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

Last update for Cimislia: April 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Cimislia versus $435 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 44% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $23 in Cimislia versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Cimislia vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Cimislia 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
Cimislia vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Cimislia, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Cimislia vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,253 per month in Cimislia and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cimislia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Cimislia vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cimislia and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 44% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $835 in Cimislia and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cimislia costs $835 versus $845 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cimislia compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Cimislia. 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.

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