🙂A single person spends $714 per month in Ebene vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,216 per month in Ebene vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,718 per month in Ebene vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ebene is about 23% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ebene and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ebene48% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74MUR 271
$2.08฿69.5
175.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23MUR 1,519
$19.61฿655
64.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.29MUR 296
$5.67฿189
10.93%
Cappuccino
$2.70MUR 127
$1.81฿60.3
49.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MUR 42.45
$0.77฿25.65
16.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54MUR 25.50
$0.35฿11.53
54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77MUR 83.3
$2.21฿73.9
-19.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56MUR 121
$3.79฿127
-32.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47MUR 69.3
$2.05฿68.4
-28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.75MUR 35.27
$1.51฿50.6
-50.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10MUR 51.8
$1.40฿46.69
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.20MUR 104
$2.26฿75.4
-2.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.62MUR 406
$16.19฿540
-46.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50MUR 307
$2.90฿96.7
124.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.52MUR 496
$9.42฿314
11.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81MUR 85.2
$2.68฿89.4
-32.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19MUR 56.2
$1.09฿36.37
9.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 68.4
$1.62฿54.0
-10.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57MUR 121
$1.46฿48.74
76.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MUR 45.60
$1.28฿42.65
-24.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MUR 48.25
$1.06฿35.31
-3.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MUR 32.69
$0.72฿23.94
-4.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MUR 24.39
$0.53฿17.56
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59MUR 263
$4.23฿141
32.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.41MUR 396
$18.29฿611
-54.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MUR 77.8
$1.63฿54.4
1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MUR 125
$2.90฿96.8
-8.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87MUR 41.22
$0.88฿29.32
-1.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.14MUR 195
$1.17฿39.14
253.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.10MUR 146
$0.58฿19.30
434.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.19MUR 999
$2.39฿79.6
786.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MUR 62.2
$1.45฿48.41
-8.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KMUR 1.7M
$21.0K฿701.4K
74.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KMUR 1.5M
$26.4K฿882.0K
19.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.28MUR 2,134
$63.7฿2,125
-28.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.68MUR 503
$12.89฿430
-17.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.17MUR 1,375
$20.52฿685
42.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.29MUR 1,333
$39.02฿1,302
-27.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.23MUR 294
$3.92฿131
58.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82MUR 275
$6.58฿220
-11.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,956
$784฿26.2K
-83.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,564MUR 356.5K
$14.7K฿489.8K
-48.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.59MUR 2,102
$55.1฿1,840
-19.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.23MUR 1,990
$24.74฿826
70.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.63MUR 2,245
$94.1฿3,142
-49.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.07MUR 2,218
$74.0฿2,469
-36.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255MUR 12.0K
$490฿16.4K
-47.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$149MUR 7,028
$288฿9,620
-48.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577MUR 27.2K
$891฿29.8K
-35.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429MUR 20.2K
$521฿17.4K
-17.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ebene
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,181MUR 55.7K
$602฿20.1K
96.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5.57
19.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ebene: September 15, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Ebene 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 96% higher in Ebene, 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 $32.00 in Ebene versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Ebene vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Ebene 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
Ebene vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ebene or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 30% more than Ebene, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Ebene and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,072 per month in Ebene and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ebene or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ebene, 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 Ebene and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ebene 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 Ebene or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 $1,500/month in Ebene or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ebene, where all-in costs run around $714, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ebene 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, Ebene or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ebene costs $714 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ebene 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 Ebene or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ebene. 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.