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

🙂 Solo nomad: Mandalay is 61.2% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 72.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mandalay is 46.9% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 67.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 MMK 4,240
$2.02 ฿65.3
0.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.12 MMK 29.6K
$18.78 ฿608
-24.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.67 ฿248
-
Cappuccino
$1.32 MMK 2,769
$1.98 ฿64.2
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MMK 1,827
$0.82 ฿26.64
6.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MMK 2,147
$0.33 ฿10.58
212.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.78 MMK 1,631
$2.12 ฿68.6
-63.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MMK 2,572
$3.73 ฿121
-67.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 MMK 2,039
$1.64 ฿53.2
-40.85%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 MMK 2,046
$1.57 ฿50.9
-37.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.5 MMK 1,037
$1.19 ฿38.62
-57.98%
Eggs
$1 MMK 2,090
$1.98 ฿64.1
-49.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.33 MMK 21.6K
$15.99 ฿517
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.07 MMK 12.7K
$3.12 ฿101
94.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.06 MMK 14.8K
$11.16 ฿361
-36.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 MMK 8,754
$2.76 ฿89.2
51.45%
Banana (1kg)
$0.97 MMK 2,038
$1.22 ฿39.5
-20.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 MMK 2,797
$1.71 ฿55.4
-21.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.71 MMK 1,497
$1.55 ฿50.2
-54.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 MMK 2,751
$1.34 ฿43.21
-2.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 MMK 2,452
$1.21 ฿39.23
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MMK 808
$0.72 ฿23.2
-45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 MMK 650
$0.53 ฿17.05
-41.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.02 MMK 2,142
$4.72 ฿153
-78.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.95 MMK 10.4K
$18.39 ฿595
-73.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 MMK 1,253
$1.79 ฿57.9
-66.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.21 ฿104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿30.44
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.9 ฿612
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.42 ฿46.08
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 MMK 871
$1.35 ฿43.53
-68.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 MMK 8,278
$7.85 ฿254
-49.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.25 ฿40.4
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ฿684.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$21.8K ฿706.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$70.6 ฿2,285
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.61 MMK 13.8K
$13.72 ฿444
-51.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.56 ฿568
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.77 MMK 37.2K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-57.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.8 ฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 MMK 501.8K
$308 ฿9,963
-22.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 MMK 12M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-60.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.4 ฿1,793
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.4 ฿854
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.1 ฿2,755
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$71.8 ฿2,323
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$202 MMK 422K
$434 ฿14K
-53.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$235 ฿7,610
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 MMK 617.6K
$821 ฿26.6K
-64.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$498 ฿16.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,543 ฿49.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 MMK 419.8K
$703 ฿22.8K
-71.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Mandalay: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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