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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $44.74 per month in Gan vs $848 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $73.0 per month in Gan vs $1,331 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $101 per month in Gan vs $1,814 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gan is about 95% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gan 97% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 MVR 82.9

$1.96 ฿63.6

174.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿598

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 ฿256

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.4

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

$0.85 ฿27.57

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿69.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿120

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿53.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.63

Eggs

$1.99 ฿64.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.24 ฿528

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿103

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿352

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿86.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.67

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.7

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.3

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ฿43.17

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿22.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.68 ฿152

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 ฿552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿59.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿29.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ฿609

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ฿265

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.53

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

$21.8K ฿709.3K

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

$22.4K ฿728.0K

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

$70.5 ฿2,291

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

$14.05 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.65 ฿574

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 ฿1,342

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.76 ฿220

Cinema Ticket

$5.96 ฿194

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

$303 ฿9,846

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿486.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,778

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.29 ฿854

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,788

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.7 ฿2,265

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿13.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,769

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 ฿26.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ฿16.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,025 ฿65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 MVR 8,592

$1,502 ฿48.8K

-62.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 ฿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 Gan: June 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 13, 2026

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 1795% more than Gan, 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 $67.1 per month in Gan and $1,272 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $44.74 in Gan and $848 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Gan costs $44.74 versus $848 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 Gan. 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.