😐A single person spends $1,024 per month in Flacq vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,626 per month in Flacq vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,228 per month in Flacq vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Flacq costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Flacq and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Flacq24% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.26MUR 296
$1.94฿63.5
222.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80MUR 2,069
$18.64฿609
134.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78MUR 320
$7.82฿255
-13.30%
Cappuccino
$2.60MUR 123
$1.95฿63.8
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MUR 48.43
$0.85฿27.77
20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MUR 27.53
$0.35฿11.58
65.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43MUR 67.8
$2.13฿69.6
-32.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65MUR 125
$3.73฿122
-28.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51MUR 71.2
$1.71฿56.0
-11.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.81
$1.63฿53.2
-60.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MUR 62.3
$1.14฿37.15
15.79%
Eggs
$2.73MUR 129
$1.93฿63.1
41.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70MUR 458
$16.21฿530
-40.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11MUR 289
$3.12฿102
95.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35MUR 489
$10.90฿356
-5.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98MUR 93.4
$2.75฿90.0
-28.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93MUR 91.3
$1.21฿39.52
59.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46MUR 68.8
$1.62฿53.0
-9.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72MUR 129
$1.59฿51.8
71.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.55
$1.40฿45.70
-26.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.89
$1.17฿38.17
-18.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83MUR 39.37
$0.66฿21.60
25.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 27.11
$0.53฿17.22
7.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06MUR 286
$4.69฿153
29.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.45MUR 399
$18.66฿609
-54.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79MUR 84.4
$1.80฿58.8
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13MUR 100
$3.23฿106
-34.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99MUR 46.96
$0.90฿29.26
10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.63MUR 1,589
$19.21฿628
75.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.31MUR 204
$1.41฿45.91
205.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73MUR 129
$1.29฿42.12
111.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.14MUR 716
$7.84฿256
93.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 66.6
$1.27฿41.58
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KMUR 1.7M
$21.3K฿694.9K
69.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMUR 1.4M
$22.2K฿725.4K
31.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4MUR 2,379
$69.1฿2,256
-27.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.19MUR 859
$14.08฿460
29.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.29MUR 1,526
$18.00฿588
79.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.21MUR 1,805
$41.06฿1,341
-6.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.13MUR 290
$5.92฿193
3.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151MUR 7,146
$299฿9,766
-49.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,889MUR 183.8K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-73.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4MUR 2,427
$54.7฿1,787
-6.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.41MUR 2,051
$26.77฿874
62.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5MUR 3,943
$85.0฿2,776
-1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9MUR 3,728
$70.6฿2,306
11.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MUR 24.0K
$428฿14.0K
18.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353MUR 16.7K
$237฿7,752
48.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$953MUR 45.1K
$801฿26.2K
18.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$710MUR 33.5K
$515฿16.8K
37.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,139MUR 53.8K
$617฿20.2K
84.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
5
25.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Flacq: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $508 in Flacq versus $428 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 85% higher in Flacq, 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 $44.00 in Flacq versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Flacq vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Flacq 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
Flacq vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Flacq or Chiang Mai?
Flacq costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Flacq vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,535 per month in Flacq and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Flacq 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 childcare costs compare in Flacq and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $151 per month in Flacq and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Flacq or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Flacq – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Flacq or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Flacq at $1,024. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Flacq it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Flacq or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,024 in Flacq. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Flacq 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 Flacq or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Flacq makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.