Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandurah and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,382 in Mandurah, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mandurah, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Mandurah
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,382
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mandurah and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mandurah and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,382 per month in Mandurah vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mandurah $2,382
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $3,473 per month in Mandurah vs $1,467 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mandurah $3,473
  • Chiang Mai $1,467

A family of three spends $4,564 per month in Mandurah vs $1,999 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Mandurah $4,564
  • Chiang Mai $1,999

Mandurah costs about 155% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Mandurah sits 76% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.06 A$30.02
$2.13 ฿71.2
888.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.4 A$119
$18.62 ฿622
347.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.88 A$15.50
$5.60 ฿187
94.29%
Cappuccino
$4.35 A$6.20
$1.66 ฿55.5
162.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 A$3.96
$0.65 ฿21.59
327.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 A$3.13
$0.30 ฿10.18
630.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 A$8.88
$2.32 ฿77.5
168.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18 A$11.66
$3.67 ฿122
122.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 A$2.51
$2.02 ฿67.3
-12.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 A$3.65
$1.41 ฿47.00
81.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 A$2.81
$1.39 ฿46.46
41.73%
Eggs
$5.04 A$7.18
$2.37 ฿79.0
112.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.30 A$13.25
$16.52 ฿551
-43.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.08 A$12.93
$2.67 ฿89.1
240.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 A$19.91
$9.02 ฿301
54.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$4.87
$2.40 ฿80.1
42.50%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 A$4.44
$1.04 ฿34.76
200.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 A$4.88
$1.66 ฿55.4
106.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 A$7.13
$1.56 ฿52.0
221.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 A$2.39
$1.24 ฿41.31
35.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 A$1.25
$1.09 ฿36.27
-19.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 A$2.88
$0.76 ฿25.43
165.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 A$1.95
$0.51 ฿17.16
168.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.60 A$60.7
$4.12 ฿138
933.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 A$17.86
$17.93 ฿598
-30.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60 A$6.55
$1.62 ฿54.2
183.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 A$4.87
$2.82 ฿94.2
21.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.60 A$5.12
$0.93 ฿31.19
287.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.9 A$131
$52.9 ฿1,766
73.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 A$5.56
$1.18 ฿39.28
230.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 A$2.18
$0.17 ฿5.72
800.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.97 A$62.7
$1.81 ฿60.5
2329.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 A$1.89
$1.47 ฿49.16
-9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K A$42.1K
$21.0K ฿701.4K
40.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K A$39.4K
$26.5K ฿885.1K
4.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 A$292
$62.6 ฿2,088
227.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.90 A$29.78
$11.60 ฿387
80.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9 A$89.7
$20.30 ฿678
210.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.88 A$48.28
$37.88 ฿1,264
-10.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.45 A$14.90
$3.70 ฿123
182.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.93 A$12.73
$6.51 ฿217
37.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$388 A$552
$727 ฿24.3K
-46.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.4K A$46.2K
$16.6K ฿553.2K
95.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 A$112
$53.5 ฿1,787
46.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.35 A$64.6
$24.80 ฿828
82.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$172
$90.4 ฿3,017
33.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0 A$110
$72.0 ฿2,402
6.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 A$1,959
$481 ฿16.1K
185.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 A$1,584
$310 ฿10.3K
258.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,438 A$3,474
$1,058 ฿35.3K
130.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,719 A$2,450
$659 ฿22.0K
161.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,418 ฿80.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,609 ฿53.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,253 A$6,060
$595 ฿19.9K
614.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
5.57
2.33%

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

Last update for Mandurah: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
$1.1K
Chiang Mai
$310 72.1% $801
Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
$347
Chiang Mai
$237 31.8% $111
Eating Out
Mandurah
$321
Chiang Mai
$77 76.1% $244
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
$289
Chiang Mai
$94 67.3% $194
Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
$145
Chiang Mai
$108 25.1% $36
Getting Around
Mandurah
$118
Chiang Mai
$59 50.2% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
$52
Chiang Mai
$51 1.6% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,375 in Mandurah versus $481 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 in Mandurah are about 7.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Mandurah versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $237 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Mandurah
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
05:30 5:30 AM
04:30 4:30 AM
1 h behind Mandurah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
107,643
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mandurah Chiang Mai 5,980 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mandurah
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Mandurah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
Mandurah costs about 155% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Mandurah and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,573 per month in Mandurah and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $1,375 in Mandurah.
How do childcare costs compare in Mandurah and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $388 per month in Mandurah and $727 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 Mandurah or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Mandurah, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Mandurah or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,382 in Mandurah and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $2,382 in Mandurah. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Mandurah compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Mandurah or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mandurah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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