🙂A single person spends $479 per month in Homs vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $688 per month in Homs vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $897 per month in Homs vs $1,909 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 – Homs65% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04SYP 369
$2.10฿69.3
44.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.86SYP 1,441
$19.84฿656
-40.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59SYP 558
$5.79฿191
-20.73%
Cappuccino
$0.45SYP 54.4
$1.83฿60.4
-75.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31SYP 281
$0.78฿25.61
196.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48SYP 58.0
$0.31฿10.37
54.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94SYP 236
$2.34฿77.2
-17.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04SYP 369
$3.70฿122
-17.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.66SYP 80.3
$2.03฿67.1
-67.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.41SYP 49.90
$1.60฿52.7
-74.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12SYP 137
$1.42฿46.75
-21.13%
Eggs
$1.54SYP 188
$2.18฿71.9
-29.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.33SYP 405
$15.91฿526
-79.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.97SYP 483
$3.07฿102
29.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.74SYP 1,184
$9.87฿326
-1.32%
Apples(1kg)
$0.54SYP 65.2
$2.63฿86.8
-79.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21SYP 146
$1.10฿36.19
10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58SYP 70.0
$1.63฿53.8
-64.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.29SYP 35.53
$1.53฿50.6
-81.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48SYP 57.8
$1.24฿41.13
-61.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75SYP 90.7
$1.13฿37.37
-33.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36SYP 44.19
$0.74฿24.38
-51.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43SYP 52.7
$0.50฿16.48
-14.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.48SYP 179
$4.28฿141
-65.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.85SYP 468
$17.97฿594
-78.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72SYP 87.8
$1.70฿56.1
-57.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91SYP 353
$2.90฿95.7
0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23SYP 27.98
$0.94฿31.13
-75.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.22SYP 1,850
$55.3฿1,827
-72.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98SYP 119
$1.23฿40.76
-20.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48SYP 180
$0.53฿17.66
179.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02SYP 245
$2.40฿79.3
-15.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03SYP 125
$1.44฿47.55
-28.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KSYP 1.8M
$21.2K฿700.2K
-29.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.9KSYP 1.6M
$27.3K฿902.1K
-52.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.1SYP 11.9K
$64.9฿2,145
51.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.67SYP 811
$13.35฿441
-50.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.36SYP 5,512
$20.83฿688
117.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.17SYP 1,236
$40.42฿1,336
-74.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.34SYP 649
$6.71฿222
-20.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$65.8SYP 7,990
$787฿26.0K
-91.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$982SYP 119.3K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-93.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$4.92SYP 597
$56.2฿1,858
-91.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.05SYP 1,221
$24.95฿824
-59.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.8SYP 7,266
$92.7฿3,063
-35.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.81SYP 3,744
$75.1฿2,482
-58.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$49.94SYP 6,068
$484฿16.0K
-89.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$34.35SYP 4,174
$287฿9,491
-88.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$102SYP 12.4K
$910฿30.1K
-88.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$56.1SYP 6,816
$531฿17.5K
-89.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Homs
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$73.8SYP 8,964
$605฿20.0K
-87.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.25
5.57
155.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Homs: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $49.94 in Homs versus $484 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 720% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $121 vs $242 – 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 98% 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 $719 per month in Homs and $1,426 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 childcare costs compare in Homs and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $65.8 per month in Homs and $787 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 Homs or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 101% 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 Homs or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Homs, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Homs 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, Homs or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Homs costs $479 versus $950 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.