😐A single person spends $1,157 per month in Flic en Flac vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,774 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,391 per month in Flic en Flac vs $1,867 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 Flac13% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63MUR 311
$2.04฿68.2
225.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3MUR 2,356
$18.71฿624
168.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31MUR 342
$7.86฿262
-7.00%
Cappuccino
$2.55MUR 120
$2.03฿67.7
25.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MUR 44.21
$0.80฿26.64
17.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59MUR 27.66
$0.35฿11.68
68.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.32MUR 202
$2.14฿71.5
101.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38MUR 158
$3.67฿122
-7.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MUR 67.0
$1.73฿57.6
-17.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.32
$1.57฿52.4
-58.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29MUR 60.4
$1.20฿39.99
7.50%
Eggs
$2.11MUR 98.8
$1.97฿65.8
7.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13MUR 521
$16.23฿541
-31.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.05MUR 284
$3.06฿102
97.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.51MUR 586
$10.80฿360
15.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97MUR 92.4
$2.77฿92.3
-28.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MUR 94.0
$1.17฿38.94
71.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49MUR 69.7
$1.71฿57.0
-12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76MUR 129
$1.59฿53.2
73.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04MUR 48.65
$1.39฿46.51
-25.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.21
$1.16฿38.56
-14.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85MUR 39.96
$0.66฿22.05
28.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47MUR 22.05
$0.52฿17.31
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.66MUR 265
$4.65฿155
21.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.61MUR 404
$17.78฿593
-51.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81MUR 84.7
$1.79฿59.6
1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MUR 65.6
$3.34฿111
-58.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85MUR 39.84
$0.91฿30.27
-6.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.64฿622
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42MUR 207
$1.41฿47.04
213.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73MUR 128
$1.34฿44.70
103.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.13MUR 521
$8.11฿270
37.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 65.6
$1.23฿41.16
13.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KMUR 1.6M
$21.4K฿715.1K
63.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KMUR 1.4M
$21.8K฿728.0K
34.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.01MUR 2,296
$71.3฿2,379
-31.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.16MUR 851
$14.01฿467
29.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.60MUR 1,574
$17.93฿598
87.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.78MUR 2,191
$40.82฿1,362
14.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿230
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.91MUR 277
$5.72฿191
3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111MUR 5,197
$308฿10.3K
-64.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,671MUR 125.1K
$14.7K฿489.7K
-81.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.47MUR 1,521
$55.8฿1,860
-41.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.75MUR 1,534
$26.04฿869
25.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MUR 5,121
$84.8฿2,829
28.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.9MUR 4,397
$71.0฿2,368
32.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593MUR 27.8K
$423฿14.1K
40.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512MUR 24.0K
$242฿8,088
111.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$964MUR 45.1K
$797฿26.6K
20.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757MUR 35.5K
$507฿16.9K
49.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,918฿64.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,464฿48.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Flic en Flac
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MUR 31.7K
$595฿19.9K
13.85%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $593 in Flic en Flac versus $423 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 14% 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 – $220 in Flic en Flac vs $244 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,735 per month in Flic en Flac and $1,279 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 $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 in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% 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 $852, than in Flic en Flac at $1,157. 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 $852 versus $1,157 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