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 $782 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,465 per month in Fuvahmulah vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Fuvahmulah is about 17% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fuvahmulah and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Fuvahmulah 43% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MVR 25.55

$1.96 ฿64.4

-15.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 MVR 13.79

$1.50 ฿49.39

-40.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.47 MVR 7.23

$1.34 ฿43.93

-64.93%

Eggs

$1.59 MVR 24.59

$2.26 ฿74.5

-29.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.45 MVR 99.4

$16.26 ฿535

-60.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 MVR 74.2

$2.95 ฿97.1

63.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 MVR 202

$9.94 ฿327

31.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 MVR 48.53

$2.57 ฿84.6

22.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 MVR 20.17

$1.06 ฿34.73

23.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.26 MVR 50.3

$1.61 ฿53.0

102.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 MVR 24.52

$1.52 ฿49.97

4.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 MVR 16.67

$1.27 ฿41.77

-14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 MVR 17.23

$1.07 ฿35.06

4.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 MVR 25.27

$0.72 ฿23.68

127.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MVR 10.48

$0.51 ฿16.72

33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.90 MVR 60.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 MVR 106

$4.19 ฿138

64.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 MVR 10.33

$0.93 ฿30.43

-27.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.51 MVR 301

$53.9 ฿1,771

-63.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 MVR 25.43

$1.23 ฿40.59

34.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 MVR 24.62

$0.58 ฿18.96

175.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.29 MVR 97.0

$2.42 ฿79.7

159.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MVR 20.35

$1.41 ฿46.43

-6.38%

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

$19.6K MVR 301.9K

$21.4K ฿705.1K

-8.71%

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

$22.6K MVR 348.7K

$27.3K ฿898.7K

-17.26%

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

$159 MVR 2,450

$63.7 ฿2,093

149.58%

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.74 MVR 582

$20.22 ฿665

86.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.39 MVR 345

$38.74 ฿1,274

-42.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.01 MVR 201

$3.97 ฿130

227.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 MVR 100

$6.74 ฿222

-3.56%

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

$155 MVR 2,384

$778 ฿25.6K

-80.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,231 MVR 34.4K

$14.6K ฿480.4K

-84.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.49 MVR 455

$54.3 ฿1,785

-45.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 MVR 295

$25.45 ฿837

-24.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.65 MVR 581

$94.3 ฿3,102

-60.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 MVR 808

$73.4 ฿2,415

-28.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MVR 4,954

$490 ฿16.1K

-34.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 MVR 4,066

$289 ฿9,512

-8.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 MVR 8,470

$894 ฿29.4K

-38.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$524 MVR 8,082

$517 ฿17.0K

1.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$353 MVR 5,442

$1,477 ฿48.6K

-76.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MVR 10.1K

$602 ฿19.8K

9.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Fuvahmulah: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Fuvahmulah 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 9% 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 21% 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 $1,173 per month in Fuvahmulah and $1,421 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 176% less in Fuvahmulah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 33% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Fuvahmulah, where all-in costs run around $782, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Fuvahmulah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Fuvahmulah costs $782 versus $947 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.