😐A single person spends $1,060 per month in Flacq vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,712 per month in Flacq vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,365 per month in Flacq vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Flacq costs about 12% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Flacq and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Flacq23% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19MUR 291
$2.08฿69.2
197.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.78MUR 1,919
$19.64฿651
107.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.10MUR 334
$5.65฿188
25.66%
Cappuccino
$2.67MUR 126
$1.81฿59.9
47.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MUR 56.9
$0.71฿23.66
70.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.67
$0.32฿10.48
78.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.34MUR 63.2
$2.24฿74.2
-40.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64MUR 171
$3.63฿121
0.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44MUR 67.9
$1.96฿65.0
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82MUR 38.76
$1.50฿49.83
-45.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.63
$1.34฿44.32
-26.12%
Eggs
$2.68MUR 126
$2.26฿75.1
18.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.28MUR 249
$16.26฿539
-67.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31MUR 297
$2.95฿98.0
113.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13MUR 523
$9.94฿330
11.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06MUR 96.8
$2.57฿85.3
-19.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37MUR 111
$1.06฿35.04
123.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MUR 67.2
$1.61฿53.5
-11.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89MUR 136
$1.52฿50.4
90.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01MUR 47.30
$1.27฿42.14
-20.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97MUR 45.66
$1.07฿35.37
-9.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MUR 34.88
$0.72฿23.89
2.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MUR 42.94
$0.51฿16.87
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.93MUR 279
$4.19฿139
41.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35MUR 346
$17.87฿593
-58.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.3
$1.69฿56.2
1.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28MUR 107
$2.84฿94.1
-19.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90MUR 42.19
$0.93฿30.70
-3.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.15MUR 1,513
$53.9฿1,787
-40.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.30MUR 202
$1.23฿40.95
249.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.07MUR 144
$0.58฿19.13
429.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.45MUR 1,103
$2.42฿80.4
869.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39MUR 65.4
$1.41฿46.84
-1.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9KMUR 1.7M
$21.4K฿711.3K
71.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMUR 1.4M
$27.3K฿906.7K
9.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.06MUR 1,979
$63.7฿2,112
-33.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56MUR 497
$12.85฿426
-17.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.14MUR 1,277
$20.22฿671
34.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.77MUR 1,636
$38.74฿1,285
-10.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.53MUR 307
$6.74฿223
-3.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,940
$778฿25.8K
-83.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,454MUR 397.8K
$14.6K฿484.6K
-42.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0MUR 3,199
$54.3฿1,801
25.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.2MUR 3,068
$25.45฿844
156.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MUR 5,367
$94.3฿3,129
20.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6MUR 3,602
$73.4฿2,436
4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576MUR 27.1K
$490฿16.2K
17.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$444MUR 20.9K
$289฿9,596
53.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,113MUR 52.4K
$894฿29.6K
24.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$836MUR 39.3K
$517฿17.1K
61.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flacq
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,143MUR 53.8K
$602฿20.0K
89.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
5.57
13.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Flacq: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $576 in Flacq 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.
💰Salaries run about 90% 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 $41.00 in Flacq versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $209 in Flacq vs $240 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 12% 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 $1,589 per month in Flacq and $1,421 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 $126 per month in Flacq and $778 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 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Flacq at $1,060. 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 $947 versus $1,060 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.