😐A single person spends $1,143 per month in Falmouth vs $847 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,849 per month in Falmouth vs $1,332 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,554 per month in Falmouth vs $1,816 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Falmouth costs about 35% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Falmouth and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Falmouth14% lower, Chiang Mai37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.48JMD 1,178
$2.03฿68.2
268.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4JMD 9,988
$18.71฿629
239.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90JMD 1,401
$7.84฿263
13.52%
Cappuccino
$4.24JMD 668
$1.93฿64.7
119.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31JMD 206
$0.83฿27.92
57.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76JMD 120
$0.35฿11.77
117.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57JMD 405
$2.22฿74.6
15.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16JMD 497
$3.79฿127
-16.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.38JMD 690
$1.65฿55.3
165.45%
White Bread(500g)
$3.54JMD 557
$1.55฿52.1
128.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 255
$1.18฿39.69
37.29%
Eggs
$3.44JMD 541
$2.01฿67.7
71.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16JMD 1,758
$16.16฿543
-30.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48JMD 1,020
$3.03฿102
113.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.52JMD 1,184
$10.84฿364
-30.63%
Apples(1kg)
$5.95JMD 937
$2.68฿90.0
122.01%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08JMD 485
$1.22฿41.03
152.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.21JMD 662
$1.63฿54.6
158.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95JMD 464
$1.53฿51.3
92.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01JMD 316
$1.34฿44.98
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95JMD 308
$1.21฿40.75
61.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.00JMD 473
$0.70฿23.57
328.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50JMD 237
$0.53฿17.65
183.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97JMD 1,412
$4.69฿157
91.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.50JMD 1,810
$17.71฿595
-35.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76JMD 434
$1.85฿62.0
49.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04JMD 479
$3.21฿108
-5.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿29.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.76฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13JMD 178
$1.41฿47.27
-19.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.14JMD 495
$1.29฿43.40
143.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12JMD 964
$7.79฿262
-21.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23JMD 194
$1.29฿43.47
-4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5KJMD 6.9M
$21.8K฿731.4K
99.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KJMD 5.3M
$21.7K฿728.8K
54.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166JMD 26.2K
$70.0฿2,351
137.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.37JMD 3,523
$14.19฿477
57.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8JMD 8,162
$17.42฿585
197.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.39JMD 4,471
$41.64฿1,399
-31.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.89฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.03JMD 2,051
$5.78฿194
125.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$229JMD 36.1K
$300฿10.1K
-23.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,510JMD 395.2K
$14.5K฿487.9K
-82.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.74JMD 4,053
$55.4฿1,860
-53.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.35JMD 3,992
$26.31฿884
-3.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1JMD 11.3K
$84.8฿2,851
-15.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.7JMD 11.9K
$70.5฿2,368
7.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308JMD 48.5K
$425฿14.3K
-27.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$251JMD 39.5K
$235฿7,898
6.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530JMD 83.4K
$802฿27.0K
-33.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462JMD 72.8K
$516฿17.3K
-10.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,926฿64.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿48.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Falmouth
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$586฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
5
83.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Falmouth: July 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $308 in Falmouth versus $425 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 $63.0 in Falmouth versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $242 – making Chiang Mai 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
Falmouth vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Falmouth or Chiang Mai?
Falmouth costs about 35% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Falmouth and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,714 per month in Falmouth and $1,271 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Falmouth or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, 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 Falmouth and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Falmouth and $19.00 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 Falmouth or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Falmouth, 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 Falmouth or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Falmouth at $1,143. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Falmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Falmouth or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $1,143 in Falmouth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Falmouth 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 Falmouth or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Falmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.