🙂A single person spends $512 per month in Hatton vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $829 per month in Hatton vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,147 per month in Hatton vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Hatton is about 46% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Hatton and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Hatton63% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39LKR 1,442
$2.08฿68.5
111.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.17LKR 7,929
$19.64฿646
23.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.66LKR 2,512
$5.65฿186
35.58%
Cappuccino
$2.53LKR 831
$1.81฿59.3
39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70LKR 229
$0.71฿23.44
-1.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.5
$0.32฿10.38
-21.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20LKR 721
$2.24฿73.5
-1.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11LKR 1,019
$3.63฿119
-14.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65LKR 540
$1.96฿64.4
-15.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 173
$1.50฿49.38
-64.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79LKR 259
$1.34฿43.92
-41.04%
Eggs
$1.59LKR 521
$2.26฿74.4
-29.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04LKR 4,277
$16.26฿534
-19.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.91LKR 1,611
$2.95฿97.1
66.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.28LKR 2,388
$9.94฿327
-26.76%
Apples(1kg)
$6.67LKR 2,189
$2.57฿84.5
159.53%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84LKR 275
$1.06฿34.72
-20.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.47LKR 1,466
$1.61฿53.0
177.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 409
$1.52฿49.96
-17.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LKR 332
$1.27฿41.76
-20.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74LKR 244
$1.07฿35.05
-30.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96LKR 316
$0.72฿23.67
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48LKR 159
$0.51฿16.72
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.28LKR 3,373
$4.19฿138
145.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.91LKR 4,564
$17.87฿587
-22.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92LKR 630
$1.69฿55.7
13.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77LKR 908
$2.84฿93.2
-2.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.42
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,770
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 127
$1.23฿40.58
-68.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37LKR 122
$0.58฿18.96
-36.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.94LKR 309
$2.42฿79.7
-61.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31LKR 431
$1.41฿46.42
-7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KLKR 9.9M
$21.4K฿704.9K
41.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KLKR 14.0M
$27.3K฿898.5K
56.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.3LKR 17.5K
$63.7฿2,093
-16.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29LKR 1,409
$12.85฿423
-66.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.98LKR 6,883
$20.22฿665
3.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.74฿1,274
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿130
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34LKR 1,423
$6.74฿221
-35.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.30LKR 12.6K
$778฿25.6K
-95.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,198LKR 392.9K
$14.6K฿480.2K
-91.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.38LKR 6,687
$54.3฿1,785
-62.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.54LKR 5,427
$25.45฿836
-35.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4LKR 25.7K
$94.3฿3,101
-16.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.93LKR 14.1K
$73.4฿2,414
-41.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$289฿9,510
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$894฿29.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$517฿17.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿48.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hatton
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿19.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
5.57
127.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hatton: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Hatton versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Hatton vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Hatton 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
Hatton vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hatton or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 85% more than Hatton, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Hatton and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $768 per month in Hatton and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Hatton and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Hatton 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 Hatton or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $1,500/month in Hatton or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hatton, where all-in costs run around $512, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Hatton it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hatton or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hatton costs $512 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hatton 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 Hatton or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Hatton. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.