🙂A single person spends $349 per month in Khoy vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $714 per month in Khoy vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,079 per month in Khoy vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Khoy is about 63% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Khoy and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Khoy74% lower, Chiang Mai32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.83$1.83
$2.08฿69.2
-12.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.17$14.17
$19.61฿652
-27.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27$4.27
$5.67฿189
-24.69%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.76$0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.17$1.17
$1.81฿60.0
-35.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53$0.53
$0.77฿25.55
-31.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93$0.93
$0.35฿11.48
165.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿73.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79฿126
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68$0.68
$2.05฿68.1
-66.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46$0.46
$1.51฿50.4
-69.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04$2.04
$1.40฿46.51
45.71%
Eggs
$1.20$1.20
$2.26฿75.1
-46.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$16.19฿538
-78.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$2.90฿96.3
22.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.72$9.72
$9.42฿313
3.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02$1.02
$2.68฿89.1
-61.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36$1.36
$1.09฿36.23
24.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18$1.18
$1.62฿53.8
-27.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.62$0.62
$1.46฿48.55
-57.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55$0.55
$1.28฿42.48
-57.03%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65$0.65
$1.06฿35.17
-38.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56$0.56
$0.72฿23.85
-22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27$0.27
$0.53฿17.49
-49.06%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.59$0.59
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22$1.22
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33$2.33
$4.23฿141
-44.92%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.29฿608
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.63฿54.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90฿96.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16$0.16
$0.88฿29.20
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.43$7.43
$53.8฿1,788
-86.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45$0.45
$1.17฿38.99
-61.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30$0.30
$0.58฿19.22
-48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.18$2.18
$2.39฿79.3
-8.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.09$0.09
$1.45฿48.22
-93.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K$50.2K
$21.0K฿698.6K
139.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0K$43.0K
$26.4K฿878.6K
62.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.08$13.08
$63.7฿2,116
-79.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.16$2.16
$12.89฿429
-83.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.77$3.77
$20.52฿682
-81.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.89$17.89
$39.02฿1,297
-54.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67$13.67
$3.92฿130
248.72%
Cinema Ticket
$2.02$2.02
$6.58฿219
-69.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114$114
$784฿26.1K
-85.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,515$1,515
$14.7K฿487.9K
-89.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.66$21.66
$55.1฿1,833
-60.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.39$28.39
$24.74฿823
14.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102$102
$94.1฿3,130
8.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.12$27.12
$74.0฿2,459
-63.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$93.3$93.3
$490฿16.3K
-80.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$61.1$61.1
$288฿9,582
-78.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$676$676
$891฿29.6K
-24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340$340
$521฿17.3K
-34.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,144$1,144
$1,974฿65.6K
-42.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$571$571
$1,444฿48.0K
-60.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Khoy
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213$213
$602฿20.0K
-64.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23.21
5.57
316.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Khoy: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $93.3 in Khoy versus $490 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 182% 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 $14.00 in Khoy versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $111 vs $241 – making Khoy 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
Khoy vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Khoy or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 167% more than Khoy, 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 Khoy and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $524 per month in Khoy and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Khoy or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Khoy, 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 Khoy and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $114 per month in Khoy and $784 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 Khoy or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 117% 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 $2,000/month in Khoy or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Khoy, where all-in costs run around $349, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Khoy 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, Khoy or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khoy costs $349 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Khoy 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 Khoy or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Khoy. 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.