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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,104 per month in Mandurah vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,097 per month in Mandurah vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,089 per month in Mandurah vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mandurah costs about 143% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mandurah sits 57% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52 A$23.15
$1.94 ฿63.6
751.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2 A$108
$18.64 ฿609
314.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 A$14.83
$7.82 ฿256
35.42%
Cappuccino
$3.78 A$5.30
$1.95 ฿63.9
93.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 A$3.48
$0.85 ฿27.80
191.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 A$2.73
$0.35 ฿11.60
457.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.82 A$8.16
$2.13 ฿69.7
173.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.64 A$9.31
$3.73 ฿122
78.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 A$1.95
$1.71 ฿56.0
-18.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 A$3.07
$1.63 ฿53.3
34.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 A$2.71
$1.14 ฿37.18
69.30%
Eggs
$4.53 A$6.35
$1.93 ฿63.2
134.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.37 A$11.72
$16.21 ฿530
-48.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.31 A$11.64
$3.12 ฿102
166.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.18 A$18.47
$10.90 ฿356
20.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 A$4.57
$2.75 ฿90.1
18.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.85 A$3.99
$1.21 ฿39.56
135.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 A$4.15
$1.62 ฿53.0
82.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 A$6.54
$1.59 ฿51.9
193.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 A$2.16
$1.40 ฿45.75
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 A$1.14
$1.17 ฿38.20
-30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 A$2.61
$0.66 ฿21.62
181.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 A$2.09
$0.53 ฿17.24
181.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.30 A$45.26
$4.69 ฿153
588.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.73 A$17.84
$18.66 ฿610
-31.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.95 A$5.53
$1.80 ฿58.8
119.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 A$5.95
$3.23 ฿106
31.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.34 A$4.68
$0.90 ฿29.28
271.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.9 A$119
$19.21 ฿628
341.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.94 A$5.53
$1.41 ฿45.96
179.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 A$3.06
$1.29 ฿42.16
68.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.83 A$69.8
$7.84 ฿256
535.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 A$1.64
$1.27 ฿41.62
-7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$39.9K
$21.3K ฿695.5K
33.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K A$34.7K
$22.2K ฿726.1K
11.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 A$216
$69.1 ฿2,258
122.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.53 A$23.16
$14.08 ฿460
17.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 A$76.8
$18.00 ฿588
204.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.96 A$44.78
$41.06 ฿1,342
-22.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.57 A$13.41
$6.96 ฿227
37.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93 A$11.11
$5.92 ฿193
33.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,768 A$2,478
$299 ฿9,775
491.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K A$16.6K
$15.0K ฿488.8K
-20.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 A$99.6
$54.7 ฿1,788
29.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 A$57.9
$26.77 ฿875
54.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 A$146
$85.0 ฿2,778
22.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 A$102
$70.6 ฿2,308
3.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 A$1,792
$428 ฿14.0K
198.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 A$1,438
$237 ฿7,759
332.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,317 A$3,247
$801 ฿26.2K
189.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 A$2,296
$515 ฿16.9K
217.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,298 A$6,022
$617 ฿20.2K
596.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.8
5
16.00%

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

Last update for Mandurah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Mandurah 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.

Salaries run about 596% higher in Mandurah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Mandurah versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai 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
Mandurah vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
Mandurah costs about 143% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,157 per month in Mandurah 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, Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mandurah and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $1,768 per month in Mandurah and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Mandurah, 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 $1,000/month in Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Mandurah at $2,104. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mandurah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,104 in Mandurah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mandurah 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 Mandurah or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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