🙂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 – Cimislia38% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.88MDL 118
$1.95฿62.6
252.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29MDL 400
$18.43฿591
26.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.64MDL 131
$7.50฿241
1.87%
Cappuccino
$1.71MDL 29.33
$1.93฿62.0
-11.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MDL 15.78
$0.78฿24.98
17.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MDL 11.94
$0.32฿10.38
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16MDL 19.83
$2.15฿68.9
-46.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38MDL 40.83
$3.71฿119
-35.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03MDL 17.72
$1.71฿55.0
-39.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MDL 7.24
$1.56฿50.1
-73.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MDL 25.76
$1.18฿37.91
27.12%
Eggs
$2.13MDL 36.55
$1.98฿63.6
7.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01MDL 155
$16.04฿515
-43.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15MDL 71.3
$3.17฿102
30.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.67MDL 149
$10.94฿351
-20.75%
Apples(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.35
$2.63฿84.3
-77.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MDL 30.92
$1.17฿37.45
53.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MDL 25.73
$1.65฿52.8
-9.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MDL 35.43
$1.54฿49.31
33.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61MDL 10.44
$1.38฿44.16
-55.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.47
$1.17฿37.39
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32MDL 22.64
$0.66฿21.16
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82MDL 14.05
$0.51฿16.48
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.30MDL 56.6
$4.52฿145
-26.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.52MDL 77.6
$18.32฿588
-75.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15MDL 19.81
$1.80฿57.7
-36.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99MDL 34.14
$3.18฿102
-37.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30MDL 5.20
$0.90฿28.85
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.00฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.01MDL 34.46
$1.41฿45.32
42.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.25
$1.31฿41.98
-80.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.13MDL 88.1
$8.09฿260
-36.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MDL 24.70
$1.28฿40.92
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KMDL 560.8K
$21.3K฿683.3K
53.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KMDL 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)
$169MDL 2,908
$69.2฿2,221
144.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.62MDL 131
$13.97฿448
-45.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.94MDL 188
$17.95฿576
-39.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.20MDL 295
$42.31฿1,358
-59.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.66฿214
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.74MDL 133
$5.92฿190
30.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$390MDL 6,694
$299฿9,601
30.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,514MDL 128.9K
$14.8K฿476.5K
-49.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7MDL 1,111
$56.2฿1,803
15.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8MDL 940
$26.94฿864
103.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MDL 1,928
$84.9฿2,724
32.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120MDL 2,066
$71.8฿2,305
67.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235MDL 4,026
$435฿14.0K
-46.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MDL 2,950
$240฿7,696
-28.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347MDL 5,957
$798฿25.6K
-56.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293MDL 5,027
$498฿16.0K
-41.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$773MDL 13.3K
$1,995฿64.0K
-61.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$702MDL 12.1K
$1,532฿49.2K
-54.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$437MDL 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.