🙂A single person spends $479 per month in Mandalgovi vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $762 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,046 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mandalgovi is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mandalgovi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi64% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66MNT 9,536
$1.96฿65.7
35.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.50MNT 48.4K
$18.35฿616
-26.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46MNT 19.6K
$7.48฿251
-27.01%
Cappuccino
$1.89MNT 6,790
$2.02฿67.7
-6.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54MNT 1,952
$0.85฿28.45
-36.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30MNT 1,087
$0.36฿11.94
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60MNT 5,738
$2.14฿71.7
-25.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97MNT 7,047
$3.59฿121
-45.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20MNT 4,293
$1.65฿55.4
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MNT 2,566
$1.57฿52.6
-54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01MNT 3,613
$1.19฿39.95
-15.13%
Eggs
$1.73MNT 6,214
$1.94฿65.0
-10.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04MNT 32.4K
$16.19฿544
-44.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18MNT 18.5K
$2.99฿100
73.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.63MNT 16.6K
$10.94฿367
-57.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34MNT 8,370
$2.71฿91.0
-13.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25MNT 8,078
$1.17฿39.18
92.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MNT 6,763
$1.69฿56.6
11.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39MNT 8,574
$1.60฿53.9
49.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51MNT 1,814
$1.38฿46.45
-63.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MNT 3,647
$1.20฿40.38
-15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MNT 4,643
$0.67฿22.46
94.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MNT 2,157
$0.56฿18.70
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.34MNT 4,819
$4.64฿156
-71.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.55MNT 37.8K
$17.62฿591
-40.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34MNT 4,788
$1.86฿62.4
-27.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77MNT 6,341
$3.30฿111
-46.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.28MNT 990
$1.36฿45.82
-79.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MNT 1,087
$1.34฿44.90
-77.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.82MNT 17.3K
$8.21฿276
-41.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77MNT 2,764
$1.22฿41.11
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KMNT 71.4M
$21.4K฿716.8K
-6.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.2KMNT 47.5M
$22.5K฿756.3K
-41.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.07MNT 147.2K
$70.7฿2,372
-41.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.63MNT 27.3K
$14.04฿471
-45.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.39MNT 37.2K
$17.49฿587
-40.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.77MNT 106.7K
$42.15฿1,415
-29.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.54MNT 16.3K
$6.88฿231
-34.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.30MNT 8,246
$5.92฿199
-61.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104MNT 372.2K
$309฿10.4K
-66.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,450MNT 23.1M
$14.9K฿499.5K
-56.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.99MNT 57.3K
$55.8฿1,872
-71.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.15MNT 68.6K
$26.11฿877
-26.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.27MNT 158.6K
$83.0฿2,787
-46.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.75MNT 128.1K
$70.5฿2,365
-49.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101MNT 362.1K
$432฿14.5K
-76.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.3MNT 266.3K
$239฿8,020
-68.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$223MNT 800.1K
$822฿27.6K
-72.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MNT 477.0K
$512฿17.2K
-74.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Mandalgovi versus $432 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 $14.00 in Mandalgovi versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $243 – 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 80% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $718 per month in Mandalgovi and $1,292 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Mandalgovi and $18.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $479 in Mandalgovi and $861 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 $479 versus $861 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 to 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