🙂A single person spends $429 per month in Homs vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $635 per month in Homs vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $841 per month in Homs vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Homs is about 50% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Homs and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Homs68% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05SYP 371
$1.96฿65.9
55.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.03SYP 1,462
$18.35฿617
-34.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.07SYP 495
$7.48฿252
-45.59%
Cappuccino
$1.01SYP 122
$2.02฿67.8
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62SYP 75.8
$0.85฿28.52
-27.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41SYP 50.1
$0.36฿11.97
13.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.88SYP 108
$2.14฿71.9
-58.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01SYP 123
$3.59฿121
-71.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63SYP 76.2
$1.65฿55.5
-61.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60SYP 72.6
$1.57฿52.7
-61.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13SYP 138
$1.19฿40.05
-5.04%
Eggs
$1.85SYP 225
$1.94฿65.1
-4.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.81SYP 342
$16.19฿545
-82.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63SYP 684
$2.99฿101
88.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08SYP 1,347
$10.94฿368
1.28%
Apples(1kg)
$0.63SYP 76.3
$2.71฿91.2
-76.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37SYP 167
$1.17฿39.27
17.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.52SYP 63.2
$1.69฿56.8
-69.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.31SYP 38.24
$1.60฿54.0
-80.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57SYP 68.9
$1.38฿46.56
-58.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61SYP 74.4
$1.20฿40.47
-49.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38SYP 45.74
$0.67฿22.51
-43.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SYP 71.4
$0.56฿18.74
5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.54SYP 187
$4.64฿156
-66.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.80SYP 461
$17.62฿593
-78.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83SYP 101
$1.86฿62.6
-55.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SYP 123
$3.30฿111
-69.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01SYP 123
$1.36฿45.92
-25.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99SYP 120
$1.34฿45.00
-26.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.47SYP 179
$8.21฿276
-82.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23SYP 149
$1.22฿41.20
0.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KSYP 2.2M
$21.4K฿718.5K
-15.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSYP 2.5M
$22.5K฿758.1K
-8.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101SYP 12.2K
$70.7฿2,378
42.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.90SYP 716
$14.04฿472
-57.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.08SYP 1,833
$17.49฿589
-13.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.87SYP 1,199
$42.15฿1,418
-76.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.90SYP 596
$6.88฿231
-28.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09SYP 375
$5.92฿199
-47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.94SYP 5,339
$309฿10.4K
-85.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,835SYP 223.0K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-87.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$14.77SYP 1,795
$55.8฿1,876
-73.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.52SYP 1,521
$26.11฿879
-52.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.16SYP 5,488
$83.0฿2,793
-45.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6SYP 6,760
$70.5฿2,371
-21.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.4SYP 9,285
$432฿14.5K
-82.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$35.14SYP 4,271
$239฿8,040
-85.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300SYP 36.5K
$822฿27.7K
-63.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.52SYP 6,017
$512฿17.2K
-90.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$74.3SYP 9,034
$579฿19.5K
-87.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Homs: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.4 in Homs 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.
💰Salaries run about 679% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $12.00 in Homs versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $134 vs $243 – making Homs the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Homs vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Homs or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 101% more than Homs, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Homs and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $644 per month in Homs 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, Homs or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Homs, 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 Homs and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Homs 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 Homs or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 81% 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 $1,000/month in Homs or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $429 in Homs and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Homs or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Homs costs $429 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Homs 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 Homs or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Homs. 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.