Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $5,221 in Mata Utu, rent and utilities included – about $51,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Mata Utu

🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna

$5,221

/mo nomad

Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mata Utu 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 Mata Utu and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $5,221 per month in Mata Utu vs $936 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mata Utu $5,221
Chiang Mai $936

A couple spends around $6,618 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mata Utu $6,618
Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $8,015 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Mata Utu $8,015
Chiang Mai $1,979

Mata Utu costs about 458% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Mata Utu sits 284% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 CFPF 1,176

$2.24 ฿75.7

391.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$110 CFPF 11.8K

$19.00 ฿642

481.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$7.83 CFPF 835

$1.67 ฿56.6

368.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.56 CFPF 593

$0.64 ฿21.56

768.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 CFPF 351

$0.31 ฿10.32

961.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.65 CFPF 603

$3.66 ฿124

54.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.06 CFPF 1,180

$0.71 ฿23.84

1457.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.59 CFPF 489

$0.49 ฿16.38

836.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.00 CFPF 1,814

$4.14 ฿140

310.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.57 CFPF 1,768

$17.52 ฿592

-5.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 CFPF 199

$1.45 ฿48.93

28.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ฿711.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K ฿909.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 CFPF 15.3K

$62.2 ฿2,100

130.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$114 CFPF 12.1K

$12.17 ฿411

835.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,321 CFPF 354.3K

$20.12 ฿680

16405.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$225 CFPF 24.0K

$53.4 ฿1,802

321.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$90.9 CFPF 9,696

$24.64 ฿832

268.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$224 CFPF 23.9K

$91.5 ฿3,089

144.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$276 CFPF 29.4K

$71.9 ฿2,429

283.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 CFPF 97.0K

$482 ฿16.3K

88.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 CFPF 97.6K

$309 ฿10.4K

196.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 CFPF 241.6K

$1,006 ฿34.0K

125.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,266 CFPF 241.8K

$633 ฿21.4K

257.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,355 CFPF 358.0K

$590 ฿19.9K

468.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Mata Utu: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Groceries & Markets

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Clothing & Footwear

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Eating Out

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Getting Around

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Mata Utu

–

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $909 in Mata Utu versus $482 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 Mata Utu are about 5.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Mata Utu versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $132 in Mata Utu vs $234 in Chiang Mai – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇼🇫 Mata Utu

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🕒 Local time

09:13 9:13 AM

04:13 4:13 AM

5 h behind Mata Utu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,200 Capital

127,240

💱 Currency

CFP Franc XPF Fr

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD

1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to XPF – CFP Franc Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🌐 CFP Franc (Fr)

CFP Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 107 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.37 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.42 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to XPF in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Mata Utu Chiang Mai 9,950 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight

From you

Mata Utu
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

Mata Utu vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mata Utu costs about 458% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,832 per month in Mata Utu and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $909 in Mata Utu.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $5,221 in Mata Utu and $936 in Chiang Mai. That makes Chiang Mai about 82% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 43% cheaper in Mata Utu – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $5,221 in Mata Utu and $936 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $5,221 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.