Cost of Living Comparison Between Fuvahmulah and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Fuvahmulah and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $779 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,126 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,474 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Fuvahmulah is about 10% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fuvahmulah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Fuvahmulah 42% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 MVR 24.75

$1.71 ฿56.0

-5.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 MVR 14.18

$1.63 ฿53.3

-43.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.47 MVR 7.28

$1.14 ฿37.18

-58.77%

Eggs

$1.53 MVR 23.62

$1.93 ฿63.2

-20.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.52 MVR 101

$16.21 ฿530

-59.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 MVR 72.6

$3.12 ฿102

50.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.03 MVR 201

$10.90 ฿356

19.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 MVR 49.27

$2.75 ฿90.1

16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 MVR 19.83

$1.21 ฿39.56

6.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 MVR 51.1

$1.62 ฿53.0

104.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 MVR 24.61

$1.59 ฿51.9

0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 MVR 16.65

$1.40 ฿45.75

-22.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 MVR 17.16

$1.17 ฿38.20

-5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 MVR 24.71

$0.66 ฿21.62

142.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MVR 9.74

$0.53 ฿17.24

18.87%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.81 MVR 58.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.93 MVR 107

$4.69 ฿153

47.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MVR 9.80

$0.90 ฿29.28

-28.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.35 MVR 298

$19.21 ฿628

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 MVR 25.47

$1.41 ฿45.96

17.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 MVR 25.51

$1.29 ฿42.16

27.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.58 MVR 101

$7.84 ฿256

-16.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MVR 20.29

$1.27 ฿41.62

3.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.5K MVR 301.2K

$21.3K ฿695.5K

-8.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K MVR 347.7K

$22.2K ฿726.1K

1.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$159 MVR 2,456

$69.1 ฿2,258

130.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.49 MVR 594

$18.00 ฿588

113.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 MVR 347

$41.06 ฿1,342

-45.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 MVR 201

$6.96 ฿227

87.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.55 MVR 101

$5.92 ฿193

10.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$154 MVR 2,379

$299 ฿9,775

-48.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,284 MVR 35.2K

$15.0K ฿488.8K

-84.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.82 MVR 444

$54.7 ฿1,788

-47.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.82 MVR 290

$26.77 ฿875

-29.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.43 MVR 593

$85.0 ฿2,778

-54.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 MVR 803

$70.6 ฿2,308

-26.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$325 MVR 5,014

$428 ฿14.0K

-24.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 MVR 4,040

$237 ฿7,759

10.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 MVR 8,532

$801 ฿26.2K

-30.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 MVR 7,899

$515 ฿16.9K

-0.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$352 MVR 5,430

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-76.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 MVR 10.3K

$617 ฿20.2K

7.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Fuvahmulah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $325 in Fuvahmulah versus $428 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 8% higher in Fuvahmulah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Fuvahmulah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 11% more than Fuvahmulah, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,169 per month in Fuvahmulah and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fuvahmulah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Fuvahmulah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $779 in Fuvahmulah and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fuvahmulah costs $779 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Fuvahmulah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.