🙂A single person spends $842 per month in Cimislia vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,236 per month in Cimislia vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,631 per month in Cimislia vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Cimislia is about 3% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cimislia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cimislia37% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.81MDL 117
$1.94฿63.8
251.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.20MDL 398
$18.64฿611
24.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.69MDL 132
$7.82฿256
-1.66%
Cappuccino
$1.71MDL 29.30
$1.95฿64.1
-12.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MDL 15.63
$0.85฿27.90
7.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MDL 11.29
$0.35฿11.64
88.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.19MDL 20.36
$2.13฿69.9
-44.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35MDL 40.39
$3.73฿122
-37.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07MDL 18.40
$1.71฿56.2
-37.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40MDL 6.85
$1.63฿53.4
-75.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46MDL 25.03
$1.14฿37.32
28.07%
Eggs
$2.16MDL 37.07
$1.93฿63.4
11.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.84MDL 152
$16.21฿532
-45.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.01MDL 68.8
$3.12฿102
28.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.03MDL 155
$10.90฿357
-17.16%
Apples(1kg)
$0.59MDL 10.20
$2.75฿90.4
-78.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MDL 29.95
$1.21฿39.70
44.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MDL 25.75
$1.62฿53.2
-7.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MDL 35.97
$1.59฿52.1
32.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.31
$1.40฿45.91
-57.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.49
$1.17฿38.34
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29MDL 22.20
$0.66฿21.70
95.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87MDL 15.00
$0.53฿17.30
64.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18MDL 54.5
$4.69฿154
-32.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.51MDL 77.5
$18.66฿612
-75.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14MDL 19.57
$1.80฿59.0
-36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MDL 32.75
$3.23฿106
-40.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28MDL 4.74
$0.90฿29.39
-68.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MDL 36.08
$1.41฿46.13
48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.24
$1.29฿42.31
-80.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.29MDL 90.9
$7.84฿257
-32.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37MDL 23.58
$1.27฿41.77
7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KMDL 558.8K
$21.3K฿698.1K
53.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMDL 533.4K
$22.2K฿728.8K
39.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173MDL 2,966
$69.1฿2,266
150.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.54MDL 129
$14.08฿462
-46.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.77MDL 185
$18.00฿591
-40.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.69MDL 304
$41.06฿1,347
-56.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿228
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.70MDL 132
$5.92฿194
30.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389MDL 6,678
$299฿9,811
30.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,540MDL 129.4K
$15.0K฿490.6K
-49.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9MDL 1,147
$54.7฿1,795
22.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8MDL 924
$26.77฿878
101.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MDL 1,917
$85.0฿2,788
31.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MDL 2,091
$70.6฿2,316
72.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228MDL 3,917
$428฿14.0K
-46.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MDL 2,989
$237฿7,787
-26.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$341MDL 5,847
$801฿26.3K
-57.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293MDL 5,021
$515฿16.9K
-43.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$745MDL 12.8K
$1,975฿64.8K
-62.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$698MDL 12.0K
$1,475฿48.4K
-52.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$437MDL 7,498
$617฿20.3K
-29.23%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $228 in Cimislia versus $428 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 41% 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 $23.00 in Cimislia versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Cimislia vs $246 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 3% 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 $1,262 per month in Cimislia and $1,300 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 $19.00 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 45% 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 $842 in Cimislia and $866 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 $842 versus $866 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.