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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $160 per month in Inarajan vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $228 per month in Inarajan vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $297 per month in Inarajan vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Inarajan is about 83% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Inarajan and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Inarajan 88% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$5.67 ฿189

111.99%

Cappuccino

$5.82 $5.82

$1.81 ฿60.3

221.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.77 ฿25.65

93.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.35 ฿11.53

182.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$2.21 ฿73.9

172.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.79 ฿127

81.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,125

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿430

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Inarajan: September 15, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

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

Inarajan vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 483% more than Inarajan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $240 per month in Inarajan and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Inarajan, where all-in costs run around $160, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Inarajan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Inarajan costs $160 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Inarajan. 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.