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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $363 per month in Galcaio vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $577 per month in Galcaio vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $791 per month in Galcaio vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Galcaio is about 57% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Galcaio and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Galcaio 73% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.94 SOS 2,799

$2.04 ฿68.4

142.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.61 SOS 16.8K

$18.71 ฿626

58.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.15 SOS 4,055

$7.86 ฿263

-9.03%

Cappuccino

$1.02 SOS 581

$2.03 ฿67.9

-49.75%

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

$0.52 SOS 296

$0.80 ฿26.71

-35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 SOS 176

$0.35 ฿11.71

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 SOS 825

$1.73 ฿57.8

-15.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 SOS 275

$1.57 ฿52.5

-69.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

$1.20 ฿40.10

-17.50%

Eggs

$2.28 SOS 1,295

$1.97 ฿66.0

15.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.09 SOS 3,454

$16.23 ฿543

-62.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 SOS 1,740

$3.06 ฿102

0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿361

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 SOS 1,102

$2.77 ฿92.6

-29.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 SOS 1,046

$1.17 ฿39.05

58.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 SOS 1,427

$1.71 ฿57.1

47.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 SOS 671

$1.59 ฿53.3

-25.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 SOS 442

$1.39 ฿46.63

-43.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 SOS 276

$1.16 ฿38.67

-57.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 297

$0.66 ฿22.11

-21.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SOS 432

$0.52 ฿17.35

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.22 SOS 693

$4.65 ฿155

-73.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.96 SOS 1,109

$17.78 ฿595

-88.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 SOS 230

$0.91 ฿30.35

-54.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿624

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 SOS 868

$1.41 ฿47.17

8.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 SOS 826

$1.34 ฿44.82

8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿271

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SOS 638

$1.23 ฿41.27

-8.13%

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

$21.4K ฿717.0K

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

$9,967 SOS 5.7M

$21.8K ฿730.0K

-54.33%

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

$102 SOS 57.6K

$71.3 ฿2,386

42.51%

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

$14.01 ฿469

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.07 SOS 17.1K

$17.93 ฿600

67.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.93 SOS 14.1K

$40.82 ฿1,365

-38.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.05 SOS 5,699

$6.88 ฿230

46.08%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

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

$308 ฿10.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿491.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,865

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿871

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,837

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,375

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,110

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿49.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Galcaio: July 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Galcaio versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $121 in Galcaio vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Galcaio 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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 135% more than Galcaio, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $545 per month in Galcaio and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $363 in Galcaio and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 101% 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 $363 in Galcaio and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Galcaio costs $363 versus $852 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 Galcaio. 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.