Cost of Living Comparison Between Flic en Flac and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Flic en Flac and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,179 per month in Flic en Flac vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,755 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,332 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Flic en Flac costs about 36% 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 Flac 12% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58 MUR 310
$1.98 ฿64.3
232.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.52 MUR 2,332
$18.80 ฿612
163.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.35 MUR 346
$7.75 ฿252
-5.16%
Cappuccino
$2.66 MUR 125
$1.92 ฿62.5
38.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MUR 48.39
$0.79 ฿25.79
30.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MUR 26.23
$0.36 ฿11.62
55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.33 MUR 204
$2.21 ฿72.1
95.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 MUR 151
$3.66 ฿119
-12.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MUR 67.9
$1.65 ฿53.8
-12.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 MUR 30.43
$1.63 ฿53.2
-60.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 MUR 60.4
$1.19 ฿38.86
7.56%
Eggs
$2.10 MUR 99.1
$2.00 ฿65.1
5.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.07 MUR 521
$15.98 ฿520
-30.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.15 MUR 290
$3.03 ฿98.5
102.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.75 MUR 601
$10.86 ฿354
17.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 MUR 93.9
$2.76 ฿90.0
-27.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MUR 91.7
$1.18 ฿38.42
65.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 MUR 68.6
$1.64 ฿53.5
-10.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 MUR 125
$1.52 ฿49.51
74.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 46.52
$1.38 ฿45.10
-28.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MUR 47.08
$1.19 ฿38.84
-15.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 MUR 38.02
$0.70 ฿22.86
15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 MUR 24.21
$0.56 ฿18.13
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70 MUR 268
$4.58 ฿149
24.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 MUR 405
$16.56 ฿539
-48.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 MUR 83.9
$1.83 ฿59.5
-2.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MUR 65.5
$3.20 ฿104
-56.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 MUR 42.80
$0.88 ฿28.56
3.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.72 ฿610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 MUR 207
$1.36 ฿44.16
222.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 MUR 124
$1.34 ฿43.65
95.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.21 MUR 528
$7.84 ฿256
42.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MUR 68.6
$1.23 ฿39.92
18.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MUR 1.7M
$21.6K ฿704.3K
64.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K MUR 1.3M
$22.5K ฿734.3K
25.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.4 MUR 2,372
$70.5 ฿2,298
-28.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.08 MUR 851
$13.68 ฿445
32.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.40 MUR 1,573
$17.45 ฿568
91.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.25 MUR 2,178
$41.33 ฿1,346
11.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07 MUR 286
$5.77 ฿188
5.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 MUR 5,120
$307 ฿10.0K
-64.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,666 MUR 125.5K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-81.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.36 MUR 1,571
$55.8 ฿1,817
-40.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.37 MUR 1,524
$26.21 ฿854
23.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MUR 5,139
$85.8 ฿2,793
27.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0 MUR 4,428
$72.2 ฿2,353
30.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MUR 27.1K
$430 ฿14.0K
33.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$506 MUR 23.8K
$239 ฿7,774
111.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 MUR 44.5K
$817 ฿26.6K
15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 MUR 35.7K
$511 ฿16.6K
48.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 MUR 32.8K
$619 ฿20.2K
12.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5
20.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Flic en Flac: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Flic en Flac versus $430 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 13% 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 $50.0 in Flic en Flac versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $221 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 36% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,769 per month in Flic en Flac and $1,303 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Flic en Flac 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 Flic en Flac or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Flic en Flac at $1,179. 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 $869 versus $1,179 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 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

Similar cities