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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $490 per month in Mandalgovi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $759 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,027 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mandalgovi is about 43% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mandalgovi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi 63% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 MNT 9,697
$1.94 ฿63.5
39.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.27 MNT 47.5K
$18.64 ฿609
-28.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 MNT 18.9K
$7.82 ฿255
-32.48%
Cappuccino
$1.95 MNT 6,969
$1.95 ฿63.8
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 MNT 1,939
$0.85 ฿27.77
-36.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 MNT 1,083
$0.35 ฿11.58
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.65 MNT 5,887
$2.13 ฿69.6
-22.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 MNT 6,712
$3.73 ฿122
-49.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 MNT 4,127
$1.71 ฿56.0
-32.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MNT 2,523
$1.63 ฿53.2
-56.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 MNT 3,593
$1.14 ฿37.15
-12.28%
Eggs
$1.80 MNT 6,449
$1.93 ฿63.1
-6.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 MNT 32.0K
$16.21 ฿530
-44.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.23 MNT 18.7K
$3.12 ฿102
67.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.60 MNT 16.5K
$10.90 ฿356
-57.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 MNT 8,455
$2.75 ฿90.0
-14.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 MNT 7,947
$1.21 ฿39.52
83.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 MNT 6,958
$1.62 ฿53.0
20.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 MNT 8,301
$1.59 ฿51.8
45.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 MNT 1,801
$1.40 ฿45.70
-64.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MNT 3,590
$1.17 ฿38.17
-14.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 MNT 4,541
$0.66 ฿21.60
92.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MNT 2,164
$0.53 ฿17.22
15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.35 MNT 4,821
$4.69 ฿153
-71.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.00 MNT 35.7K
$18.66 ฿609
-46.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 MNT 4,804
$1.80 ฿58.8
-25.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MNT 6,141
$3.23 ฿106
-46.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.90 ฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿628
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.28 MNT 990
$1.41 ฿45.91
-80.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MNT 1,088
$1.29 ฿42.12
-76.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 MNT 16.4K
$7.84 ฿256
-41.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 MNT 2,929
$1.27 ฿41.58
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K MNT 70.4M
$21.3K ฿694.9K
-7.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.0K MNT 46.6M
$22.2K ฿725.4K
-41.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.71 MNT 149.1K
$69.1 ฿2,256
-39.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.43 MNT 26.6K
$14.08 ฿460
-47.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.61 MNT 37.9K
$18.00 ฿588
-41.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.91 MNT 106.9K
$41.06 ฿1,341
-27.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47 MNT 16.0K
$6.96 ฿227
-35.78%
Cinema Ticket
$2.29 MNT 8,193
$5.92 ฿193
-61.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$101 MNT 361.5K
$299 ฿9,766
-66.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,340 MNT 22.7M
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-57.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.92 MNT 56.9K
$54.7 ฿1,787
-70.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.05 MNT 68.1K
$26.77 ฿874
-28.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.42 MNT 158.9K
$85.0 ฿2,776
-47.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.73 MNT 127.8K
$70.6 ฿2,306
-49.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$104 MNT 372.4K
$428 ฿14.0K
-75.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.6 MNT 259.8K
$237 ฿7,752
-69.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$224 MNT 800.5K
$801 ฿26.2K
-72.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 MNT 477.2K
$515 ฿16.8K
-74.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 ฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5
20.00%

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

Last update for Mandalgovi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $104 in Mandalgovi 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Mandalgovi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $246 – making Mandalgovi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Mandalgovi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 77% more than Mandalgovi, 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 Mandalgovi vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $735 per month in Mandalgovi 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, Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandalgovi, 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 Mandalgovi vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Mandalgovi 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 Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 32% 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 $1,200/month in Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $490 in Mandalgovi and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandalgovi costs $490 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mandalgovi 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 Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Mandalgovi. 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.

Mandalgovi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities