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 $1,190 per month in Georgetown vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,997 per month in Georgetown vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Georgetown vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Georgetown costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Georgetown and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Georgetown 11% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 EC$20.46

$1.96 ฿65.7

286.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.88 EC$29.38

$7.48 ฿251

45.45%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

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

$1.52 EC$4.11

$0.85 ฿28.45

78.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 EC$4.96

$0.36 ฿11.94

411.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 EC$4.09

$2.14 ฿71.7

-29.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 EC$9.93

$3.59 ฿121

2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 EC$6.67

$1.65 ฿55.4

49.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 EC$4.36

$1.57 ฿52.6

3.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 EC$4.48

$1.19 ฿39.95

39.50%

Eggs

$4.31 EC$11.64

$1.94 ฿65.0

122.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 EC$26.33

$16.19 ฿544

-39.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 EC$12.95

$2.99 ฿100

60.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.54 EC$39.27

$10.94 ฿367

32.91%

Apples (1kg)

$18.63 EC$50.3

$2.71 ฿91.0

587.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

Oranges (1kg)

$8.08 EC$21.82

$1.69 ฿56.6

378.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.65 EC$17.96

$1.60 ฿53.9

315.63%

Potato (1kg)

$6.35 EC$17.14

$1.38 ฿46.45

360.14%

Onion (1kg)

$4.10 EC$11.08

$1.20 ฿40.38

241.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.67 EC$9.92

$0.67 ฿22.46

447.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 EC$7.87

$0.56 ฿18.70

419.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 EC$16.15

$4.64 ฿156

28.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿591

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 EC$7.23

$1.86 ฿62.4

44.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 EC$10.15

$3.30 ฿111

13.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.65 EC$7.16

$0.88 ฿29.63

201.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 EC$298

$19.34 ฿649

469.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.02 EC$100.0

$8.21 ฿276

350.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.11

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

$36.6K EC$98.9K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

71.46%

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

$22.5K ฿756.3K

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

$70.7 ฿2,372

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

$14.04 ฿471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.0 EC$149

$17.49 ฿587

214.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.27 EC$60.1

$42.15 ฿1,415

-47.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.26 EC$49.30

$6.88 ฿231

165.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.44 EC$20.08

$5.92 ฿199

25.68%

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

$186 EC$502

$309 ฿10.4K

-39.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.1 EC$200

$55.8 ฿1,872

32.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$110 EC$298

$26.11 ฿877

322.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$184 EC$496

$83.0 ฿2,787

121.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 EC$401

$70.5 ฿2,365

110.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 EC$793

$432 ฿14.5K

-32.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 EC$606

$239 ฿8,020

-6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,083 EC$8,323

$822 ฿27.6K

274.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 EC$1,784

$512 ฿17.2K

29.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

140.00%

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

Last update for Georgetown: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $294 in Georgetown versus $432 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.

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 38% 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 $1,786 per month in Georgetown and $1,292 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.

Public transport costs about 470% less in Chiang Mai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 72% 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 $861, than in Georgetown at $1,190. 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 $861 versus $1,190 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.