🙂A single person spends $2.99 per month in Maun vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $5.00 per month in Maun vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $7.04 per month in Maun vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Maun is about 100% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Maun and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Maun100% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.98฿64.3
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$18.80฿612
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.75฿252
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.92฿62.5
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.79฿25.79
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.36฿11.62
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.21฿72.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.66฿119
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.65฿53.8
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.63฿53.2
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.19฿38.86
-
Eggs
-
$2.00฿65.1
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$15.98฿520
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.03฿98.5
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.86฿354
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.76฿90.0
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.18฿38.42
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.52฿49.51
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.38฿45.10
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.19฿38.84
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.70฿22.86
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56฿18.13
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.58฿149
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.56฿539
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83฿59.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.20฿104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58P 7.65
$0.88฿28.56
-34.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62P 8.16
$1.36฿44.16
-54.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿43.65
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.23฿39.92
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.6K฿704.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5K฿734.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.5฿2,298
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.68฿445
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.45฿568
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.77฿188
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$298P 3,915
$307฿10.0K
-2.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.6K฿475.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,817
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.21฿854
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.8฿2,793
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$72.2฿2,353
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maun
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maun: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
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
Maun vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maun or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 28958% more than Maun, 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 Maun vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4.49 per month in Maun and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Maun compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2.99 in Maun and $869 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Maun and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $298 per month in Maun and $307 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Maun or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $2.99 in Maun and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maun or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maun costs $2.99 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Maun 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 Maun or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Maun. 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.