😐A single person spends $1,174 per month in Flic en Flac vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,563 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Flic en Flac costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Flic en Flac and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Flic en Flac14% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.01MUR 285
$2.08฿69.2
188.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MUR 2,509
$19.61฿652
169.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48MUR 355
$5.67฿189
31.92%
Cappuccino
$2.68MUR 127
$1.81฿60.0
48.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14MUR 54.0
$0.77฿25.55
48.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MUR 29.88
$0.35฿11.48
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.64MUR 125
$2.21฿73.6
19.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14MUR 197
$3.79฿126
9.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MUR 67.3
$2.05฿68.1
-30.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74MUR 35.16
$1.51฿50.4
-50.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16MUR 55.0
$1.40฿46.51
-17.14%
Eggs
$1.92MUR 91.2
$2.26฿75.1
-15.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.37MUR 255
$16.19฿538
-66.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.21MUR 295
$2.90฿96.3
114.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.49MUR 546
$9.42฿313
21.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88MUR 89.3
$2.68฿89.1
-29.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68MUR 127
$1.09฿36.23
145.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41MUR 66.8
$1.62฿53.8
-12.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91MUR 138
$1.46฿48.55
99.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.93
$1.28฿42.48
-25.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.86
$1.06฿35.17
-2.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71MUR 33.52
$0.72฿23.85
-1.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91MUR 43.15
$0.53฿17.49
71.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52MUR 310
$4.23฿141
54.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.64MUR 410
$18.29฿608
-52.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70MUR 80.9
$1.63฿54.2
4.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28MUR 108
$2.90฿96.5
-21.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63MUR 29.73
$0.88฿29.20
-28.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,788
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.13MUR 196
$1.17฿38.99
252.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.11MUR 148
$0.58฿19.22
436.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.56MUR 1,024
$2.39฿79.3
802.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MUR 64.1
$1.45฿48.22
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KMUR 1.7M
$21.0K฿698.6K
73.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KMUR 1.5M
$26.4K฿878.6K
18.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.88MUR 2,132
$63.7฿2,116
-29.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.74MUR 510
$12.89฿429
-16.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.11MUR 1,383
$20.52฿682
41.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9MUR 2,607
$39.02฿1,297
40.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.46MUR 259
$6.58฿219
-17.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,971
$784฿26.1K
-83.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,728MUR 367.1K
$14.7K฿487.9K
-47.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1MUR 3,661
$55.1฿1,833
39.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.4MUR 3,580
$24.74฿823
204.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119MUR 5,669
$94.1฿3,130
26.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4MUR 3,724
$74.0฿2,459
6.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569MUR 27.0K
$490฿16.3K
16.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$502MUR 23.9K
$288฿9,582
74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,024MUR 48.6K
$891฿29.6K
14.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$958MUR 45.5K
$521฿17.3K
83.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,974฿65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,444฿48.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$699MUR 33.2K
$602฿20.0K
16.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
5.57
7.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Flic en Flac: September 14, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $569 in Flic en Flac 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 16% higher in Flic en Flac, 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 $53.0 in Flic en Flac versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Flic en Flac vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Flic en Flac 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
Flic en Flac vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Flic en Flac or Chiang Mai?
Flic en Flac costs about 26% 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 Flic en Flac and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,760 per month in Flic en Flac and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Flic en Flac 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 Flic en Flac and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Flic en Flac and $20.00 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 Flic en Flac or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Flic en Flac – 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 Flic en Flac or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Flic en Flac at $1,174. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Flic en Flac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Flic en Flac or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,174 in Flic en Flac. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Flic en Flac 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 Flic en Flac or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Flic en Flac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Flic en Flac vs other spots: cost of living compared