🙂A single person spends $636 per month in Ende vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Ende vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,366 per month in Ende vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Ende is about 32% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Ende and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Ende53% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.68Rp 29.7K
$2.08฿69.5
-19.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.40Rp 237.2K
$19.61฿655
-31.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.20Rp 56.7K
$5.67฿189
-43.56%
Cappuccino
$1.70Rp 30.1K
$1.81฿60.3
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,737
$0.77฿25.65
-42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,811
$0.35฿11.53
-37.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57Rp 45.4K
$2.21฿73.9
16.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35Rp 59.2K
$3.79฿127
-11.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26Rp 22.4K
$2.05฿68.4
-38.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$1.51฿50.6
-33.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.3K
$1.40฿46.69
-37.86%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.9K
$2.26฿75.4
-35.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.44Rp 131.8K
$16.19฿540
-54.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 57.2K
$2.90฿96.7
11.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.43Rp 149.2K
$9.42฿314
-10.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11Rp 37.4K
$2.68฿89.4
-21.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41Rp 24.9K
$1.09฿36.37
29.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.2K
$1.62฿54.0
19.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.2K
$1.46฿48.74
-13.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.3K
$1.28฿42.65
-10.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.1K
$1.06฿35.31
86.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$0.72฿23.94
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,492
$0.53฿17.56
-30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72Rp 48.1K
$4.23฿141
-35.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.54Rp 416.8K
$18.29฿611
28.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05Rp 36.4K
$1.63฿54.4
25.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82Rp 49.9K
$2.90฿96.8
-2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,696
$0.88฿29.32
-63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,795
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,014
$1.17฿39.14
-61.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,503
$0.58฿19.30
-36.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14Rp 55.6K
$2.39฿79.6
31.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$1.45฿48.41
-51.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 419.7M
$21.0K฿701.4K
12.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KRp 626.8M
$26.4K฿882.0K
33.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.2Rp 1.4M
$63.7฿2,125
21.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 75.3K
$12.89฿430
-67.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.29Rp 306.2K
$20.52฿685
-15.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.09Rp 373.4K
$39.02฿1,302
-45.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.39Rp 166.3K
$3.92฿131
139.54%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85Rp 50.5K
$6.58฿220
-56.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107Rp 1.9M
$784฿26.2K
-86.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,442Rp 149.5M
$14.7K฿489.8K
-42.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.25Rp 872.0K
$55.1฿1,840
-10.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.76Rp 509.2K
$24.74฿826
16.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.1Rp 1.2M
$94.1฿3,142
-27.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3Rp 1.4M
$74.0฿2,469
8.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$223Rp 3.9M
$490฿16.4K
-54.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144Rp 2.6M
$288฿9,620
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$631Rp 11.2M
$891฿29.8K
-29.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400Rp 7.1M
$521฿17.4K
-23.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,166Rp 20.6M
$1,974฿65.9K
-40.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$656Rp 11.6M
$1,444฿48.2K
-54.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ende
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
5.57
69.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ende: September 15, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $223 in Ende 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Ende versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $241 – making Ende the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ende vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ende or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 46% more than Ende, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Ende and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $955 per month in Ende 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, Ende or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ende, 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 Ende and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Ende 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 Ende or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 Ende or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ende, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Ende 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, Ende or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ende costs $636 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 Ende 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 Ende or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Ende. 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.