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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,029 per month in Gyongyos vs $926 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,645 per month in Gyongyos vs $1,381 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,261 per month in Gyongyos vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Gyongyos costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gyongyos and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Gyongyos 24% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 Ft 3,066
$2.10 ฿70.6
346.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.93 Ft 15.3K
$19.22 ฿645
144.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.15 Ft 2,990
$5.47 ฿184
67.28%
Cappuccino
$2.16 Ft 706
$1.69 ฿56.6
27.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 Ft 505
$0.65 ฿21.71
138.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 Ft 343
$0.31 ฿10.32
238.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 Ft 781
$2.32 ฿77.8
3.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Ft 715
$3.91 ฿131
-43.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Ft 376
$2.07 ฿69.3
-44.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 Ft 433
$1.53 ฿51.4
-13.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 Ft 547
$1.25 ฿41.93
33.60%
Eggs
$2.26 Ft 738
$2.19 ฿73.6
3.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.63 Ft 3,475
$15.94 ฿535
-33.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.70 Ft 2,189
$2.76 ฿92.7
142.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.52 Ft 4,095
$9.74 ฿327
28.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 Ft 532
$2.66 ฿89.1
-38.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 Ft 625
$1.05 ฿35.32
81.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 Ft 671
$1.66 ฿55.6
23.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 Ft 1,112
$1.48 ฿49.49
129.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 Ft 327
$1.21 ฿40.73
-17.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 Ft 347
$1.10 ฿36.95
-3.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 Ft 449
$0.76 ฿25.50
80.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Ft 178
$0.50 ฿16.66
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.31 Ft 2,389
$4.38 ฿147
66.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.25 Ft 1,715
$17.50 ฿587
-70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 Ft 387
$1.66 ฿55.7
-28.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 Ft 478
$2.78 ฿93.2
-47.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 Ft 240
$0.86 ฿28.88
-15.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.44 Ft 6,028
$53.7 ฿1,803
-65.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 Ft 1,011
$1.22 ฿40.87
153.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 Ft 362
$0.56 ฿18.80
98.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 Ft 5,978
$2.34 ฿78.6
681.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 Ft 594
$1.45 ฿48.57
25.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K Ft 8.6M
$21.1K ฿706.4K
24.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K Ft 7.1M
$26.3K ฿882.3K
-17.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 Ft 43.1K
$63.6 ฿2,133
107.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.99 Ft 7,190
$12.56 ฿422
75.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.32 Ft 5,990
$20.04 ฿672
-8.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.57 Ft 11.3K
$38.73 ฿1,299
-10.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.12 Ft 2,983
$3.80 ฿127
140.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12 Ft 2,000
$6.47 ฿217
-5.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 Ft 83.1K
$777 ฿26.1K
-67.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,759 Ft 2.2M
$14.6K ฿489.1K
-53.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.7 Ft 29.3K
$55.2 ฿1,853
62.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.64 Ft 5,115
$24.77 ฿831
-36.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.0 Ft 25.8K
$90.3 ฿3,029
-12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.2 Ft 24.9K
$73.5 ฿2,467
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$410 Ft 134.2K
$466 ฿15.6K
-12.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 Ft 91.8K
$286 ฿9,601
-1.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 Ft 199.5K
$866 ฿29.0K
-29.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$582 Ft 190.2K
$525 ฿17.6K
10.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,911 Ft 952.0K
$1,978 ฿66.4K
47.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,633 Ft 860.9K
$1,461 ฿49.0K
80.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gyongyos
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$752 Ft 246.0K
$581 ฿19.5K
29.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.57
19.75%

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

Last update for Gyongyos: September 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $410 in Gyongyos versus $466 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 29% higher in Gyongyos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Gyongyos versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Gyongyos vs $238 in Chiang Mai – so Gyongyos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Gyongyos vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gyongyos or Chiang Mai?
Gyongyos costs about 11% 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 Gyongyos and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Gyongyos and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Gyongyos 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 childcare costs compare in Gyongyos and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $254 per month in Gyongyos and $777 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Gyongyos or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Gyongyos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Gyongyos or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $926, than in Gyongyos at $1,029. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gyongyos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gyongyos or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $926 versus $1,029 in Gyongyos. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Gyongyos 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 Gyongyos or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gyongyos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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