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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,317 per month in Georgetown vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,426 per month in Georgetown vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,535 per month in Georgetown vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Georgetown costs about 52% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Georgetown and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Georgetown 2% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.78 GYD 2,449

$1.94 ฿63.5

507.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.5 GYD 15.1K

$18.64 ฿609

288.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 GYD 1,786

$7.82 ฿255

9.85%

Cappuccino

$5.16 GYD 1,073

$1.95 ฿63.8

164.62%

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

$1.19 GYD 247

$0.85 ฿27.77

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 GYD 135

$0.35 ฿11.58

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 GYD 428

$2.13 ฿69.6

-3.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 GYD 488

$3.73 ฿122

-37.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.36 GYD 699

$1.71 ฿56.0

96.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 GYD 445

$1.63 ฿53.2

31.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 GYD 393

$1.14 ฿37.15

65.79%

Eggs

$4.00 GYD 831

$1.93 ฿63.1

107.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 GYD 2,898

$16.21 ฿530

-14.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 GYD 1,283

$3.12 ฿102

97.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 GYD 1,958

$10.90 ฿356

-13.58%

Apples (1kg)

$9.36 GYD 1,947

$2.75 ฿90.0

240.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 GYD 541

$1.21 ฿39.52

114.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 GYD 671

$1.62 ฿53.0

99.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.26 GYD 1,301

$1.59 ฿51.8

293.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 GYD 498

$1.40 ฿45.70

71.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 GYD 627

$1.17 ฿38.17

157.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 GYD 475

$0.66 ฿21.60

246.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 GYD 300

$0.53 ฿17.22

171.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 GYD 535

$4.69 ฿153

-45.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.05 GYD 3,544

$18.66 ฿609

-8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 GYD 363

$1.80 ฿58.8

-2.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 GYD 509

$3.23 ฿106

-24.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 GYD 126

$0.90 ฿29.26

-32.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.07 GYD 6,043

$19.21 ฿628

51.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 GYD 664

$1.41 ฿45.91

126.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 GYD 684

$1.29 ฿42.12

155.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.07 GYD 2,509

$7.84 ฿256

53.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 GYD 216

$1.27 ฿41.58

-18.11%

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

$22.0K GYD 4.6M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

3.34%

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

$17.3K GYD 3.6M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-22.01%

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

$90.5 GYD 18.8K

$69.1 ฿2,256

31.03%

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

$27.39 GYD 5,695

$14.08 ฿460

94.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 GYD 10.6K

$18.00 ฿588

184.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.07 GYD 8,122

$41.06 ฿1,341

-4.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$6.55 GYD 1,362

$5.92 ฿193

10.64%

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

$1,023 GYD 212.6K

$299 ฿9,766

242.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.9K GYD 4.8M

$15.0K ฿488.3K

52.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.88 GYD 7,251

$54.7 ฿1,787

-36.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 GYD 10.8K

$26.77 ฿874

94.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 GYD 27.1K

$85.0 ฿2,776

53.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 GYD 16.2K

$70.6 ฿2,306

10.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$793 GYD 164.8K

$428 ฿14.0K

85.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 GYD 65.6K

$237 ฿7,752

32.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,481 GYD 515.8K

$801 ฿26.2K

209.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,191 GYD 247.6K

$515 ฿16.8K

131.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,505 GYD 728.7K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

77.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,573 GYD 327.0K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

6.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 GYD 107.4K

$617 ฿20.2K

-16.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

50.00%

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

Last update for Georgetown: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $793 in Georgetown versus $428 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 20% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Georgetown versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Georgetown costs about 52% more than Chiang Mai, 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 $1,976 per month in Georgetown and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,023 per month in Georgetown and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Georgetown, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Georgetown at $1,317. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Georgetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,317 in Georgetown. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Georgetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.