😐A single person spends $2,084 per month in Gharghur vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,075 per month in Gharghur vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,066 per month in Gharghur vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Gharghur costs about 124% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Gharghur sits 52% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.81€12.03
$2.08฿69.2
563.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.9€76.6
$19.61฿652
348.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.10€12.28
$5.67฿189
148.68%
Cappuccino
$2.29€1.99
$1.81฿60.0
26.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.19
$0.77฿25.55
227.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.03
$0.35฿11.48
237.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.31€4.63
$2.21฿73.6
140.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06€3.53
$3.79฿126
7.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.02
$2.05฿68.1
-42.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31€1.14
$1.51฿50.4
-13.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.61€3.15
$1.40฿46.51
157.86%
Eggs
$4.54€3.96
$2.26฿75.1
100.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.57€9.21
$16.19฿538
-34.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.32€10.73
$2.90฿96.3
324.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.49€16.11
$9.42฿313
96.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00€3.49
$2.68฿89.1
49.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85€2.48
$1.09฿36.23
161.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.96€3.45
$1.62฿53.8
144.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.93€3.42
$1.46฿48.55
169.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.73
$1.28฿42.48
55.47%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38€2.95
$1.06฿35.17
218.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35€2.05
$0.72฿23.85
226.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.35
$0.53฿17.49
192.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.43€5.60
$4.23฿141
52.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98€5.21
$18.29฿608
-67.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.23
$1.63฿54.2
57.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.07
$2.90฿96.5
-17.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.48€2.16
$0.88฿29.20
181.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.8฿1,788
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.93€3.42
$1.17฿38.99
235.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90€1.65
$0.58฿19.22
227.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.96€29.59
$2.39฿79.3
1320.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54€1.34
$1.45฿48.22
6.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K€25.2K
$21.0K฿698.6K
37.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.5K
$26.4K฿878.6K
49.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162€142
$63.7฿2,116
155.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.04€27.91
$12.89฿429
148.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.88€26.90
$20.52฿682
50.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.2€60.3
$39.02฿1,297
77.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.92฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.72€10.21
$6.58฿219
78.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$292€254
$784฿26.1K
-62.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8K€11.2K
$14.7K฿487.9K
-12.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2€67.2
$55.1฿1,833
39.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4€54.3
$24.74฿823
152.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€99.1
$94.1฿3,130
20.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$74.0฿2,459
56.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,185€1,032
$490฿16.3K
141.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$947€825
$288฿9,582
228.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,839€1,602
$891฿29.6K
106.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,525€1,329
$521฿17.3K
192.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,014€3,497
$1,974฿65.6K
103.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,854€2,486
$1,444฿48.0K
97.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gharghur
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.05
5.57
-27.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gharghur: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,185 in Gharghur versus $490 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 $88.0 in Gharghur versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $241 – 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
Gharghur vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gharghur or Chiang Mai?
Gharghur costs about 124% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Gharghur and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,126 per month in Gharghur and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gharghur or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Gharghur and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Gharghur and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gharghur or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Gharghur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gharghur or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Gharghur at $2,084. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gharghur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gharghur or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $2,084 in Gharghur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gharghur compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Gharghur or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gharghur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.