😐A single person spends $965 per month in Indiga vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Indiga vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,005 per month in Indiga vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Indiga costs about 11% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Indiga and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Indiga28% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.76₽707
$1.98฿64.3
392.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.99₽2,753
$18.80฿612
102.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.69₽412
$7.75฿252
-26.58%
Cappuccino
$2.36₽171
$1.92฿62.5
22.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13₽81.8
$0.79฿25.79
43.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₽37.48
$0.36฿11.62
44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37₽99.5
$2.21฿72.1
-38.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59₽188
$3.66฿119
-29.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15₽83.7
$1.65฿53.8
-30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₽51.3
$1.63฿53.2
-56.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44₽104
$1.19฿38.86
21.01%
Eggs
$1.79₽130
$2.00฿65.1
-10.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.00₽797
$15.98฿520
-31.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.95₽359
$3.03฿98.5
63.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.63₽625
$10.86฿354
-20.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₽125
$2.76฿90.0
-37.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80₽131
$1.18฿38.42
52.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97₽143
$1.64฿53.5
20.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76₽200
$1.52฿49.51
81.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85₽61.6
$1.38฿45.10
-38.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₽51.4
$1.19฿38.84
-40.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37₽98.9
$0.70฿22.86
95.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₽48.57
$0.56฿18.13
19.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₽216
$4.58฿149
-34.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27₽527
$16.56฿539
-56.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94₽68.0
$1.83฿59.5
-48.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88₽136
$3.20฿104
-41.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52₽38.01
$0.88฿28.56
-40.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92₽139
$1.36฿44.16
41.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽23.86
$1.34฿43.65
-75.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.39₽463
$7.84฿256
-18.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72₽51.9
$1.23฿39.92
-41.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K₽2.5M
$21.6K฿704.3K
57.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K₽2.5M
$22.5K฿734.3K
55.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₽8,021
$70.5฿2,298
56.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.90₽428
$13.68฿445
-56.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.69₽557
$17.45฿568
-55.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.93₽2,531
$41.33฿1,346
-15.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.21₽378
$5.77฿188
-9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318₽23.0K
$307฿10.0K
3.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,027₽509.2K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-51.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3₽5,093
$55.8฿1,817
25.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.92₽3,255
$26.21฿854
71.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₽8,397
$85.8฿2,793
35.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107₽7,747
$72.2฿2,353
47.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438₽31.7K
$430฿14.0K
1.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300₽21.8K
$239฿7,774
25.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$758₽54.9K
$817฿26.6K
-7.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511₽37.0K
$511฿16.6K
0.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,375₽172.1K
$1,983฿64.6K
19.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,724₽124.9K
$1,484฿48.3K
16.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Indiga
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
5
206.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Indiga: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Indiga versus $430 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Indiga versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Indiga vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Indiga wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Indiga vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Indiga or Chiang Mai?
Indiga 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 Indiga vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,448 per month in Indiga and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Indiga 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 dining costs compare in Indiga vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Indiga and $19.00 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 Indiga or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Indiga – 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 Indiga or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Indiga at $965. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Indiga it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Indiga or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $965 in Indiga. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Indiga 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 Indiga or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Indiga makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.