🙂A single person spends $712 per month in Maoming vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,138 per month in Maoming vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,564 per month in Maoming vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Maoming is about 25% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Maoming and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maoming48% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.62¥17.58
$2.08฿68.6
25.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.94¥154
$19.64฿646
16.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20¥28.16
$5.65฿186
-25.66%
Cappuccino
$2.81¥18.87
$1.81฿59.4
55.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.31
$0.71฿23.45
-30.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31¥2.10
$0.32฿10.38
-3.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92¥6.17
$2.24฿73.6
-58.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91¥12.80
$3.63฿119
-47.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74¥11.69
$1.96฿64.4
-11.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76¥11.81
$1.50฿49.39
17.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01¥6.75
$1.34฿43.93
-24.63%
Eggs
$1.64¥11.00
$2.26฿74.5
-27.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.11¥101
$16.26฿535
-7.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47¥23.31
$2.95฿97.1
17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00¥73.8
$9.94฿327
10.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93¥12.94
$2.57฿84.6
-24.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33¥8.95
$1.06฿34.73
25.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55¥10.39
$1.61฿53.0
-3.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23¥8.24
$1.52฿49.97
-19.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.81
$1.27฿41.77
-43.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94¥6.30
$1.07฿35.06
-12.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65¥4.36
$0.72฿23.68
-9.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.73
$0.51฿16.72
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39¥22.72
$4.19฿138
-19.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.35¥76.2
$17.87฿587
-36.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥5.68
$1.69฿55.7
-49.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51¥10.13
$2.84฿93.3
-46.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.91
$0.93฿30.43
-68.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.43¥130
$53.9฿1,771
-63.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53¥10.25
$1.23฿40.59
24.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36¥2.39
$0.58฿18.96
-37.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.51¥50.4
$2.42฿79.7
210.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21¥8.14
$1.41฿46.43
-14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥128.9K
$21.4K฿705.1K
-10.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥114.7K
$27.3K฿898.7K
-37.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.8¥374
$63.7฿2,093
-12.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.67¥58.2
$12.85฿423
-32.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.97¥80.3
$20.22฿665
-40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.96¥221
$38.74฿1,274
-14.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.09¥101
$3.97฿130
280.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20¥41.60
$6.74฿222
-8.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$390¥2,618
$778฿25.6K
-49.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K¥110.3K
$14.6K฿480.4K
12.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.52¥285
$54.3฿1,785
-21.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.52¥225
$25.45฿837
31.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.5¥547
$94.3฿3,102
-13.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7¥548
$73.4฿2,415
11.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250¥1,680
$490฿16.1K
-48.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195¥1,311
$289฿9,512
-32.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$564¥3,787
$894฿29.4K
-36.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427¥2,866
$517฿17.0K
-17.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,906¥19.5K
$1,955฿64.3K
48.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,175¥14.6K
$1,477฿48.6K
47.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047¥7,023
$602฿19.8K
73.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
5.57
-39.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maoming: September 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Maoming versus $490 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 74% higher in Maoming, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Maoming versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Maoming vs $240 in Chiang Mai – so Maoming 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
Maoming vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maoming or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 33% more than Maoming, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Maoming and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,068 per month in Maoming and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Maoming or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maoming, 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 Maoming and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $390 per month in Maoming and $778 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 Maoming or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 12% 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 $1,500/month in Maoming or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maoming, where all-in costs run around $712, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Maoming 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, Maoming or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maoming costs $712 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 Maoming 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 Maoming or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Maoming. 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.