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 $360 per month in Galcaio vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $588 per month in Galcaio vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $815 per month in Galcaio vs $1,802 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 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 SOS 2,776

$1.95 ฿62.8

149.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 SOS 17.3K

$18.43 ฿594

64.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SOS 4,083

$7.50 ฿241

-4.80%

Cappuccino

$1.01 SOS 580

$1.93 ฿62.3

-47.67%

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

$0.49 SOS 278

$0.78 ฿25.08

-37.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SOS 166

$0.32 ฿10.42

-9.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 SOS 842

$1.71 ฿55.2

-14.04%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 SOS 280

$1.56 ฿50.3

-68.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 SOS 581

$1.18 ฿38.06

-13.56%

Eggs

$2.26 SOS 1,294

$1.98 ฿63.9

14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.05 SOS 3,459

$16.04 ฿517

-62.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.04 SOS 1,738

$3.17 ฿102

-4.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SOS 1,134

$2.63 ฿84.7

-24.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 SOS 1,043

$1.17 ฿37.61

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 SOS 1,468

$1.65 ฿53.0

55.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 SOS 667

$1.54 ฿49.51

-24.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 SOS 451

$1.38 ฿44.34

-42.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 SOS 297

$1.17 ฿37.54

-55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 SOS 274

$0.66 ฿21.25

-27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 SOS 439

$0.51 ฿16.55

50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 SOS 677

$4.52 ฿146

-73.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.04 SOS 1,163

$18.32 ฿590

-88.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 SOS 232

$0.90 ฿28.97

-54.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 SOS 842

$1.41 ฿45.50

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 SOS 851

$1.31 ฿42.15

13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 SOS 621

$1.28 ฿41.08

-14.84%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

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

$9,954 SOS 5.7M

$21.7K ฿699.3K

-54.14%

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

$100 SOS 57.3K

$69.2 ฿2,230

44.86%

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

$13.97 ฿450

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 SOS 17.3K

$17.95 ฿578

69.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.42 SOS 14.5K

$42.31 ฿1,363

-39.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 SOS 5,798

$6.66 ฿214

52.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

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

$299 ฿9,640

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Galcaio versus $435 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Galcaio versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $122 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 $540 per month in Galcaio and $1,267 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 $360 in Galcaio and $845 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 100% 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 $360 in Galcaio and $845 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Galcaio costs $360 versus $845 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.