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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Maoming vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,096 per month in Maoming vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,514 per month in Maoming vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Maoming is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maoming and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maoming 50% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ¥13.95
$2.01 ฿64.5
1.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.26 ¥145
$18.23 ฿584
16.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.90 ¥26.65
$7.65 ฿245
-49.02%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ¥20.30
$1.92 ฿61.5
54.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.11
$0.84 ฿26.97
-45.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.83
$0.36 ฿11.42
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.38
$2.19 ฿70.2
-57.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ¥14.17
$3.79 ฿121
-45.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ¥10.80
$1.64 ฿52.5
-3.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 ¥10.51
$1.62 ฿52.0
-4.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.27
$1.15 ฿36.98
-20.00%
Eggs
$1.57 ¥10.75
$1.94 ฿62.2
-19.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.04 ¥89.1
$15.94 ฿511
-18.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.18
$3.10 ฿99.5
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.39 ¥71.0
$11.07 ฿355
-6.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.83
$2.71 ฿86.8
-36.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.63
$1.18 ฿37.80
6.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ¥9.57
$1.71 ฿54.7
-18.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 ¥7.36
$1.61 ฿51.5
-32.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.97
$1.39 ฿44.66
-47.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.24
$1.15 ฿36.81
-20.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ¥3.83
$0.71 ฿22.83
-21.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.71
$0.55 ฿17.65
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 ¥21.09
$4.57 ฿146
-32.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 ¥69.6
$18.87 ฿605
-46.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥5.14
$1.82 ฿58.4
-58.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ¥10.94
$3.21 ฿103
-50.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥2.00
$0.88 ฿28.24
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.00 ¥116
$18.89 ฿606
-10.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥9.65
$1.41 ฿45.30
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.22
$1.30 ฿41.71
-75.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.57 ¥44.88
$8.20 ฿263
-19.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.74
$1.23 ฿39.29
-8.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥133.0K
$21.2K ฿678.9K
-8.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ¥112.5K
$22.3K ฿715.3K
-26.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.91 ¥314
$69.9 ฿2,240
-34.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.08 ¥68.8
$14.07 ฿451
-28.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.42 ¥78.0
$17.70 ฿567
-35.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.14 ¥213
$41.41 ฿1,328
-24.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ¥95.4
$6.69 ฿215
108.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 ¥41.59
$5.74 ฿184
6.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$340 ¥2,319
$299 ฿9,593
13.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K ¥116.3K
$15.0K ฿481.2K
13.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.12 ¥295
$54.8 ฿1,758
-21.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.51 ¥208
$26.35 ฿845
15.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.9 ¥484
$84.7 ฿2,714
-16.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2 ¥507
$69.7 ฿2,236
6.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ¥1,933
$427 ฿13.7K
-33.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$187 ¥1,278
$241 ฿7,718
-22.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 ¥4,094
$811 ฿26.0K
-26.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 ¥2,415
$498 ฿16.0K
-29.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,989 ¥20.4K
$2,022 ฿64.8K
47.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,139 ¥14.6K
$1,524 ฿48.9K
40.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maoming
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,012 ¥6,914
$639 ฿20.5K
58.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.87
5
-22.60%

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

Last update for Maoming: April 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Maoming versus $427 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 58% 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 $21 in Maoming versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $194 in Maoming vs $246 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 29% more than Maoming, 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 Maoming vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Maoming and $1,308 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 Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $340 per month in Maoming 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 Maoming or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,000/month in Maoming or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Maoming and $872 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maoming or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maoming costs $679 versus $872 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 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.

Maoming vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities