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 $357 per month in Galcaio vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $574 per month in Galcaio vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $791 per month in Galcaio vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Galcaio is about 59% 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 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.94 SOS 2,809

$1.98 ฿64.3

149.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.49 SOS 17.3K

$18.80 ฿612

62.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 SOS 3,928

$7.75 ฿252

-10.84%

Cappuccino

$0.98 SOS 557

$1.92 ฿62.5

-48.96%

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

$0.52 SOS 294

$0.79 ฿25.79

-34.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SOS 163

$0.36 ฿11.62

-19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 SOS 875

$1.65 ฿53.8

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 SOS 295

$1.63 ฿53.2

-68.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 SOS 551

$1.19 ฿38.86

-18.49%

Eggs

$2.19 SOS 1,243

$2.00 ฿65.1

9.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.95 SOS 3,379

$15.98 ฿520

-62.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 SOS 1,672

$3.03 ฿98.5

-2.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$2.76 ฿90.0

-26.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 SOS 1,036

$1.18 ฿38.42

54.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.53 SOS 1,438

$1.64 ฿53.5

54.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 SOS 698

$1.52 ฿49.51

-19.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 SOS 466

$1.38 ฿45.10

-40.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 SOS 277

$1.19 ฿38.84

-58.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SOS 295

$0.70 ฿22.86

-25.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 SOS 438

$0.56 ฿18.13

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.16 SOS 662

$4.58 ฿149

-74.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.04 SOS 1,159

$16.56 ฿539

-87.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 SOS 229

$0.88 ฿28.56

-54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 SOS 865

$1.36 ฿44.16

11.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 SOS 863

$1.34 ฿43.65

13.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 SOS 612

$1.23 ฿39.92

-12.20%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

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

$9,856 SOS 5.6M

$22.5K ฿734.3K

-56.29%

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

$102 SOS 57.7K

$70.5 ฿2,298

43.96%

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

$13.68 ฿445

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.33 SOS 17.2K

$17.45 ฿568

73.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.03 SOS 14.2K

$41.33 ฿1,346

-39.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.18 SOS 5,784

$6.96 ฿227

46.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

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

$307 ฿10.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Galcaio: June 6, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 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 – $122 in Galcaio vs $241 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 143% 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 $536 per month in Galcaio and $1,303 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 $357 in Galcaio and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 98% 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 $357 in Galcaio and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Galcaio costs $357 versus $869 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.