🙂A single person spends $638 per month in Mandalgovi vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,446 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mandalgovi is about 33% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Mandalgovi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi54% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.71MNT 20.5K
$2.08฿69.2
174.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.01MNT 115.0K
$19.64฿651
62.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.64MNT 20.3K
$5.65฿188
-0.18%
Cappuccino
$2.44MNT 8,752
$1.81฿59.9
34.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MNT 3,173
$0.71฿23.66
23.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MNT 2,183
$0.32฿10.48
90.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42MNT 8,712
$2.24฿74.2
8.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36MNT 12.1K
$3.63฿121
-7.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41MNT 5,056
$1.96฿65.0
-28.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01MNT 3,638
$1.50฿49.83
-32.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MNT 7,423
$1.34฿44.32
54.48%
Eggs
$2.12MNT 7,603
$2.26฿75.1
-6.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.19MNT 43.8K
$16.26฿539
-25.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.92MNT 17.7K
$2.95฿98.0
66.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.18MNT 25.8K
$9.94฿330
-27.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MNT 11.2K
$2.57฿85.3
21.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39MNT 8,584
$1.06฿35.04
125.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.69MNT 13.3K
$1.61฿53.5
129.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99MNT 10.7K
$1.52฿50.4
96.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71MNT 2,568
$1.27฿42.14
-44.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08MNT 3,869
$1.07฿35.37
0.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68MNT 6,037
$0.72฿23.89
133.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74MNT 2,671
$0.51฿16.87
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76MNT 6,336
$4.19฿139
-58.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.53MNT 37.9K
$17.87฿593
-41.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51MNT 5,430
$1.69฿56.2
-10.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MNT 6,493
$2.84฿94.1
-36.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54MNT 1,954
$1.23฿40.95
-56.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MNT 1,946
$0.58฿19.13
-6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.44MNT 23.1K
$2.42฿80.4
166.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06MNT 3,816
$1.41฿46.84
-24.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KMNT 97.0M
$21.4K฿711.3K
25.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KMNT 128.0M
$27.3K฿906.7K
30.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.3MNT 260.0K
$63.7฿2,112
13.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.46MNT 26.8K
$12.85฿426
-41.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.89MNT 49.9K
$20.22฿671
-31.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$38.74฿1,285
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15MNT 14.9K
$6.74฿223
-38.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$824MNT 3.0M
$778฿25.8K
5.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,676MNT 31.2M
$14.6K฿484.6K
-40.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7MNT 297.2K
$54.3฿1,801
52.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.65MNT 160.5K
$25.45฿844
75.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MNT 366.1K
$94.3฿3,129
7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189MNT 679.3K
$73.4฿2,436
157.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490฿16.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$289฿9,596
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$894฿29.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$517฿17.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalgovi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.32
5.57
85.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandalgovi: August 30, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Mandalgovi versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Mandalgovi vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Mandalgovi 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
Mandalgovi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 49% more than Mandalgovi, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $956 per month in Mandalgovi and $1,421 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 Mandalgovi and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Mandalgovi and $20.00 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 2% 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 $2,000/month in Mandalgovi or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $638, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandalgovi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mandalgovi costs $638 versus $947 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