😐A single person spends $1,001 per month in Flacq vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,652 per month in Flacq vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,302 per month in Flacq vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Flacq costs about 16% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Flacq and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Flacq25% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.17MUR 290
$1.96฿65.7
214.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.36MUR 2,085
$18.35฿616
141.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58MUR 309
$7.48฿251
-12.03%
Cappuccino
$2.67MUR 126
$2.02฿67.7
32.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MUR 44.21
$0.85฿28.45
10.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.72
$0.36฿11.94
63.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39MUR 65.2
$2.14฿71.7
-35.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MUR 130
$3.59฿121
-22.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44MUR 67.7
$1.65฿55.4
-12.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.71
$1.57฿52.6
-58.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34MUR 62.8
$1.19฿39.95
12.61%
Eggs
$2.66MUR 125
$1.94฿65.0
37.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04MUR 472
$16.19฿544
-37.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.08MUR 286
$2.99฿100
103.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.51MUR 494
$10.94฿367
-3.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98MUR 93.0
$2.71฿91.0
-26.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89MUR 88.9
$1.17฿39.18
61.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51MUR 70.8
$1.69฿56.6
-10.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65MUR 125
$1.60฿53.9
65.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MUR 45.61
$1.38฿46.45
-29.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 47.13
$1.20฿40.38
-16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MUR 37.87
$0.67฿22.46
20.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.87
$0.56฿18.70
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94MUR 279
$4.64฿156
28.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.71MUR 456
$17.62฿591
-44.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75MUR 82.1
$1.86฿62.4
-5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16MUR 101
$3.30฿111
-34.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00MUR 47.13
$0.88฿29.63
13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.44MUR 1,525
$19.34฿649
67.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.39MUR 206
$1.36฿45.82
222.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62MUR 123
$1.34฿44.90
95.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.70MUR 738
$8.21฿276
91.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MUR 68.0
$1.22฿41.11
18.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMUR 1.7M
$21.4K฿716.8K
67.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMUR 1.4M
$22.5K฿756.3K
29.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.3MUR 2,363
$70.7฿2,372
-28.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.32MUR 861
$14.04฿471
30.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.73MUR 1,538
$17.49฿587
87.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.87MUR 1,827
$42.15฿1,415
-7.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.99MUR 282
$5.92฿199
1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151MUR 7,118
$309฿10.4K
-50.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,973MUR 186.7K
$14.9K฿499.5K
-73.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.84MUR 2,343
$55.8฿1,872
-10.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MUR 2,105
$26.11฿877
71.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.6MUR 3,930
$83.0฿2,787
0.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8MUR 3,656
$70.5฿2,365
10.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$522MUR 24.5K
$432฿14.5K
20.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346MUR 16.2K
$239฿8,020
44.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$953MUR 44.8K
$822฿27.6K
15.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716MUR 33.7K
$512฿17.2K
39.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,110MUR 52.2K
$579฿19.4K
91.53%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $522 in Flacq versus $432 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 92% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Flacq vs $243 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 16% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,502 per month in Flacq and $1,292 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $151 per month in Flacq and $309 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 in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Flacq at $1,001. 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 $861 versus $1,001 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 to 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.