🙂A single person spends $822 per month in Cimislia vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,183 per month in Cimislia vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,544 per month in Cimislia vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Cimislia is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cimislia and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cimislia40% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.93MDL 118
$2.08฿68.5
233.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.38MDL 399
$19.64฿646
19.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.74MDL 183
$5.65฿186
90.09%
Cappuccino
$1.72MDL 29.39
$1.81฿59.3
-4.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14MDL 19.47
$0.71฿23.44
60.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71MDL 12.14
$0.32฿10.38
121.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.15MDL 19.71
$2.24฿73.5
-48.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28MDL 38.96
$3.63฿119
-37.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06MDL 18.18
$1.96฿64.4
-45.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43MDL 7.31
$1.50฿49.38
-71.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66MDL 28.42
$1.34฿43.92
23.88%
Eggs
$2.09MDL 35.67
$2.26฿74.4
-7.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.89MDL 118
$16.26฿534
-57.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.11MDL 70.2
$2.95฿97.1
39.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.38MDL 109
$9.94฿327
-35.81%
Apples(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.60
$2.57฿84.5
-78.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28MDL 38.90
$1.06฿34.72
115.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MDL 24.63
$1.61฿53.0
-10.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01MDL 34.34
$1.52฿49.96
32.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.21
$1.27฿41.76
-52.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54MDL 9.26
$1.07฿35.05
-49.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45MDL 7.72
$0.72฿23.67
-37.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MDL 10.19
$0.51฿16.72
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45MDL 58.9
$4.19฿138
-17.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.81MDL 82.1
$17.87฿587
-73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MDL 20.40
$1.69฿55.7
-29.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02MDL 34.42
$2.84฿93.2
-28.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28MDL 4.72
$0.93฿30.42
-69.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,770
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.86MDL 48.86
$1.23฿40.58
132.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.65
$0.58฿18.96
-53.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.72MDL 97.8
$2.42฿79.7
136.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MDL 25.59
$1.41฿46.42
6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KMDL 604.2K
$21.4K฿704.9K
64.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMDL 437.0K
$27.3K฿898.5K
-6.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236MDL 4,031
$63.7฿2,093
270.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.35MDL 143
$12.85฿423
-35.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.86MDL 202
$20.22฿665
-41.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.81MDL 304
$38.74฿1,274
-54.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65MDL 131
$6.74฿221
13.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119MDL 2,027
$778฿25.6K
-84.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,475MDL 93.5K
$14.6K฿480.2K
-62.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.40MDL 792
$54.3฿1,785
-14.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$25.45฿836
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2MDL 993
$94.3฿3,101
-38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.0MDL 905
$73.4฿2,414
-27.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233MDL 3,987
$490฿16.1K
-52.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MDL 2,950
$289฿9,510
-40.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353MDL 6,036
$894฿29.4K
-60.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292MDL 4,996
$517฿17.0K
-43.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$762MDL 13.0K
$1,955฿64.3K
-61.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$695MDL 11.9K
$1,477฿48.5K
-52.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$438MDL 7,479
$602฿19.8K
-27.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
5.57
43.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimislia: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $233 in Cimislia versus $490 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 38% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $154 in Cimislia vs $240 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 15% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,234 per month in Cimislia and $1,421 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Cimislia and $20.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 56% 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 $1,000/month in Cimislia or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cimislia, where all-in costs run around $822, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Cimislia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimislia or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cimislia costs $822 versus $947 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 to 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.