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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,027 per month in Manavgat vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Manavgat vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,177 per month in Manavgat vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manavgat costs about 19% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manavgat and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Manavgat 23% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.66 β‚Ί306
$1.94 ΰΈΏ63.5
243.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.11 β‚Ί1,246
$18.64 ΰΈΏ609
45.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 β‚Ί188
$7.82 ΰΈΏ255
-47.70%
Cappuccino
$2.78 β‚Ί128
$1.95 ΰΈΏ63.8
42.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 β‚Ί80.1
$0.85 ΰΈΏ27.77
104.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 β‚Ί12.91
$0.35 ΰΈΏ11.58
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 β‚Ί122
$2.13 ΰΈΏ69.6
25.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 β‚Ί127
$3.73 ΰΈΏ122
-26.27%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 β‚Ί38.19
$1.71 ΰΈΏ56.0
-51.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 β‚Ί43.07
$1.63 ΰΈΏ53.2
-42.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 β‚Ί50.7
$1.14 ΰΈΏ37.15
-3.51%
Eggs
$1.71 β‚Ί78.6
$1.93 ΰΈΏ63.1
-11.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.31 β‚Ί382
$16.21 ΰΈΏ530
-48.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.32 β‚Ί244
$3.12 ΰΈΏ102
70.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.51 β‚Ί896
$10.90 ΰΈΏ356
78.99%
Apples (1kg)
$0.65 β‚Ί29.87
$2.75 ΰΈΏ90.0
-76.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 β‚Ί96.4
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.52
73.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.65 β‚Ί29.91
$1.62 ΰΈΏ53.0
-59.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 β‚Ί52.8
$1.59 ΰΈΏ51.8
-27.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.55 β‚Ί25.45
$1.40 ΰΈΏ45.70
-60.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.26 β‚Ί11.79
$1.17 ΰΈΏ38.17
-77.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 β‚Ί16.24
$0.66 ΰΈΏ21.60
-46.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 β‚Ί15.80
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.22
-35.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02 β‚Ί93.0
$4.69 ΰΈΏ153
-56.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.08 β‚Ί325
$18.66 ΰΈΏ609
-62.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 β‚Ί78.5
$1.80 ΰΈΏ58.8
-5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 β‚Ί95.2
$3.23 ΰΈΏ106
-35.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 β‚Ί28.50
$0.90 ΰΈΏ29.26
-31.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.68 β‚Ί1,410
$19.21 ΰΈΏ628
59.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 β‚Ί49.81
$1.41 ΰΈΏ45.91
-23.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 β‚Ί49.54
$1.29 ΰΈΏ42.12
-16.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.40 β‚Ί340
$7.84 ΰΈΏ256
-5.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 β‚Ί57.4
$1.27 ΰΈΏ41.58
-1.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8K β‚Ί1.9M
$21.3K ΰΈΏ694.9K
91.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6K β‚Ί2.0M
$22.2K ΰΈΏ725.4K
91.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.33 β‚Ί2,221
$69.1 ΰΈΏ2,256
-30.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.86 β‚Ί361
$14.08 ΰΈΏ460
-44.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.37 β‚Ί706
$18.00 ΰΈΏ588
-14.61%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.02 β‚Ί1,977
$41.06 ΰΈΏ1,341
4.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.53 β‚Ί943
$6.96 ΰΈΏ227
194.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.26 β‚Ί288
$5.92 ΰΈΏ193
5.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$623 β‚Ί28.6K
$299 ΰΈΏ9,766
108.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,911 β‚Ί409.4K
$15.0K ΰΈΏ488.3K
-40.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.90 β‚Ί2,155
$54.7 ΰΈΏ1,787
-14.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.17 β‚Ί1,249
$26.77 ΰΈΏ874
1.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 β‚Ί4,905
$85.0 ΰΈΏ2,776
25.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 β‚Ί5,083
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,306
56.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 β‚Ί23.8K
$428 ΰΈΏ14.0K
20.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$400 β‚Ί18.4K
$237 ΰΈΏ7,752
68.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$883 β‚Ί40.6K
$801 ΰΈΏ26.2K
10.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 β‚Ί32.0K
$515 ΰΈΏ16.8K
35.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,153 β‚Ί53.0K
$1,975 ΰΈΏ64.5K
-41.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$908 β‚Ί41.7K
$1,475 ΰΈΏ48.2K
-38.41%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 β‚Ί32.9K
$617 ΰΈΏ20.2K
15.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
5
300.00%

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

Last update for Manavgat: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $518 in Manavgat versus $428 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 16% higher in Manavgat, 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 $27.00 in Manavgat versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Manavgat vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Manavgat wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Manavgat vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manavgat or Chiang Mai?
Manavgat costs about 19% more than Chiang Mai, 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 Manavgat vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,541 per month in Manavgat and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Manavgat 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 childcare costs compare in Manavgat and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $623 per month in Manavgat and $299 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 Manavgat or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Manavgat – 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 Manavgat or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Manavgat at $1,027. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manavgat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manavgat or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,027 in Manavgat. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Manavgat 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 Manavgat or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manavgat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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