😐A single person spends $1,606 per month in Gurabo vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,410 per month in Gurabo vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,213 per month in Gurabo vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Gurabo costs about 86% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Gurabo sits 20% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.98$14.98
$1.96฿65.7
664.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1$61.1
$18.35฿616
233.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93$7.93
$7.48฿251
6.02%
Cappuccino
$3.08$3.08
$2.02฿67.7
52.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03$1.03
$0.85฿28.45
21.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97$0.97
$0.36฿11.94
169.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.08$3.08
$2.14฿71.7
43.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07$4.07
$3.59฿121
13.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06$2.06
$1.65฿55.4
24.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01$3.01
$1.57฿52.6
91.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.19฿39.95
84.03%
Eggs
$4.57$4.57
$1.94฿65.0
135.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$16.19฿544
-82.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.62$8.62
$2.99฿100
188.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93$12.93
$10.94฿367
18.19%
Apples(1kg)
$6.04$6.04
$2.71฿91.0
122.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$1.17฿39.18
123.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.97$3.97
$1.69฿56.6
134.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12$4.12
$1.60฿53.9
157.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$1.38฿46.45
60.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21$2.21
$1.20฿40.38
84.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.98$2.98
$0.67฿22.46
344.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$0.56฿18.70
241.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.17$12.17
$4.64฿156
162.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70$9.70
$17.62฿591
-44.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36$2.36
$1.86฿62.4
26.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18$3.18
$3.30฿111
-3.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.36฿45.82
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54$1.54
$1.34฿44.90
14.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.85$14.85
$8.21฿276
80.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.22฿41.11
-17.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K$36.6K
$21.4K฿716.8K
71.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$22.5K฿756.3K
20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$494$494
$70.7฿2,372
599.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$79.0$79.0
$14.04฿471
462.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.17$35.17
$17.49฿587
101.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.70$12.70
$42.15฿1,415
-69.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.06$8.06
$5.92฿199
36.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$249$249
$309฿10.4K
-19.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K$10.4K
$14.9K฿499.5K
-30.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.60$34.60
$55.8฿1,872
-37.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33$40.33
$26.11฿877
54.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.2$59.2
$83.0฿2,787
-28.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101$101
$70.5฿2,365
43.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346$346
$432฿14.5K
-19.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355$355
$239฿8,020
48.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,765$1,765
$822฿27.6K
114.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689$689
$512฿17.2K
34.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gurabo
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gurabo: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $346 in Gurabo 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Gurabo versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $243 – 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
Gurabo vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gurabo or Chiang Mai?
Gurabo costs about 86% 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 Gurabo and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,409 per month in Gurabo and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gurabo 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 Gurabo and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Gurabo and $18.00 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 Gurabo or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Gurabo, 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 Gurabo or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Gurabo at $1,606. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gurabo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gurabo or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $861 versus $1,606 in Gurabo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gurabo 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 Gurabo or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gurabo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.