Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $368 per month in Erdenet vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $624 per month in Erdenet vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $880 per month in Erdenet vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Erdenet is about 61% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Erdenet and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Erdenet 73% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

$2.08 ฿69.2

96.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MNT 99.9K

$19.64 ฿651

41.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 MNT 14.7K

$5.65 ฿188

-27.61%

Cappuccino

$2.17 MNT 7,799

$1.81 ฿59.9

19.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MNT 2,187

$0.71 ฿23.66

-14.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MNT 1,576

$0.32 ฿10.48

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 MNT 6,096

$2.24 ฿74.2

-24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MNT 5,886

$3.63 ฿121

-54.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MNT 3,658

$1.96 ฿65.0

-47.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MNT 3,013

$1.50 ฿49.83

-44.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 MNT 9,835

$1.34 ฿44.32

104.48%

Eggs

$1.94 MNT 6,979

$2.26 ฿75.1

-14.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 MNT 25.4K

$16.26 ฿539

-56.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 MNT 24.9K

$2.95 ฿98.0

134.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 MNT 16.3K

$9.94 ฿330

-54.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 MNT 8,217

$2.57 ฿85.3

-10.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MNT 5,908

$1.06 ฿35.04

54.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 MNT 5,917

$1.61 ฿53.5

2.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 MNT 4,936

$1.52 ฿50.4

-9.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MNT 4,875

$1.27 ฿42.14

7.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MNT 2,846

$1.07 ฿35.37

-26.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 MNT 4,936

$0.72 ฿23.89

90.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 MNT 3,341

$0.51 ฿16.87

82.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 MNT 10.2K

$4.19 ฿139

-31.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 MNT 19.9K

$17.87 ฿593

-68.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MNT 5,921

$1.69 ฿56.2

-2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MNT 5,840

$2.84 ฿94.1

-42.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 MNT 628

$0.93 ฿30.70

-81.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.20 MNT 69.0K

$53.9 ฿1,787

-64.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 MNT 2,349

$1.23 ฿40.95

-47.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 MNT 1,558

$0.58 ฿19.13

-25.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿80.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 MNT 2,686

$1.41 ฿46.84

-46.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿711.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿906.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$59.5 MNT 213.7K

$63.7 ฿2,112

-6.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.83 MNT 10.2K

$12.85 ฿426

-77.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.97 MNT 50.2K

$20.22 ฿671

-30.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,285

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿132

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿223

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$278 MNT 999.6K

$778 ฿25.8K

-64.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,519 MNT 9.1M

$14.6K ฿484.6K

-82.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿844

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,436

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,596

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 MNT 802.7K

$602 ฿20.0K

-62.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Erdenet: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 170% 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 $28.00 in Erdenet versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Erdenet vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Erdenet 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

Erdenet vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 157% more than Erdenet, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $552 per month in Erdenet and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Erdenet and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Erdenet, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Erdenet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Erdenet costs $368 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Erdenet. 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.