Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manati and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,214 in Manati, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. The total is higher in Manati despite lower rent and utilities.

Manati, Puerto Rico
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Manati
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
$1,214
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Manati and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Manati and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Manati vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Manati $1,214
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $1,855 per month in Manati vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Manati $1,855
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $2,497 per month in Manati vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Manati $2,497
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Manati costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Manati and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manati 10% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.83 $9.83
$2.13 ฿71.7
361.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3 $59.3
$18.62 ฿625
218.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 $7.92
$5.60 ฿188
41.43%
Cappuccino
$2.05 $2.05
$1.66 ฿55.9
23.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.65 ฿21.73
52.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.30 ฿10.24
240.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.32 ฿78.0
-34.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.67 ฿123
-20.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.02 ฿67.7
7.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.41 ฿47.29
155.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.39 ฿46.75
76.26%
Eggs
$7.72 $7.72
$2.37 ฿79.5
225.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 $12.75
$16.52 ฿555
-22.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.34 $9.34
$2.67 ฿89.7
249.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.27 $13.27
$9.02 ฿303
47.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$2.40 ฿80.6
113.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.04 ฿34.98
154.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$1.66 ฿55.7
195.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.56 ฿52.4
200.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.24 ฿41.57
202.42%
Onion (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$1.09 ฿36.50
268.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.48 $3.48
$0.76 ฿25.59
357.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$0.51 ฿17.27
211.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.09 $12.09
$4.12 ฿138
193.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$17.93 ฿602
-12.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.62 ฿54.5
83.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.82 ฿94.8
39.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.93 ฿31.39
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$52.9 ฿1,777
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.18 ฿39.52
108.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.17 ฿5.76
758.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.88 $41.88
$1.81 ฿60.9
2213.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.47 ฿49.47
-18.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$21.0K ฿705.8K
64.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$26.5K ฿890.7K
5.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$326 $326
$62.6 ฿2,101
421.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$11.60 ฿390
496.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7 $70.7
$20.30 ฿682
248.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$37.88 ฿1,272
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.70 ฿124
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.45 $10.45
$6.51 ฿219
60.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 $835
$727 ฿24.4K
14.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K $12.1K
$16.6K ฿556.7K
-27.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 $57.1
$53.5 ฿1,798
6.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1 $62.1
$24.80 ฿833
150.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$90.4 ฿3,036
19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$72.0 ฿2,418
60.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$481 ฿16.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$310 ฿10.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,058 ฿35.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$659 ฿22.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,418 ฿81.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,609 ฿54.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manati
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$595 ฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
5.57
17.59%

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

Last update for Manati: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manati
$466
Chiang Mai
$94 79.7% $372
Groceries & Markets
Manati
$414
Chiang Mai
$237 42.9% $178
Clothing & Footwear
Manati
$154
Chiang Mai
$108 29.7% $46
Eating Out
Manati
$149
Chiang Mai
$77 48.5% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Manati
$21 *
Chiang Mai
$51 144% $30
Getting Around
Manati
$9.8 *
Chiang Mai
$59 501% $49
Accommodation & Living
Manati
- *
Chiang Mai
$310

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Manati versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇷 Manati
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
22:03 10:03 PM
09:03 9:03 AM
11 h ahead of Manati
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,974
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD (1 USD = 0.888 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.59 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manati Chiang Mai 15,580 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Manati
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Manati vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manati or Chiang Mai?
Manati costs about 30% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Manati and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Manati and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Manati and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Manati and $19 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 Manati or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 75% more in Manati, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Manati or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,214 in Manati and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Manati or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,214 in Manati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Manati vs other spots: cost of living compared

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