😐A single person spends $1,522 per month in Mayari vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,904 per month in Mayari vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,287 per month in Mayari vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mayari costs about 79% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Mayari sits 14% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96CUP 143
$1.96฿63.6
204.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.66CUP 472
$18.81฿611
4.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62CUP 159
$7.92฿258
-16.41%
Cappuccino
$1.27CUP 30.54
$1.91฿62.2
-33.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CUP 52.4
$0.84฿27.25
159.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23CUP 29.63
$0.35฿11.44
251.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45CUP 58.8
$2.21฿71.7
10.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07CUP 73.8
$3.80฿124
-19.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.03CUP 72.7
$1.64฿53.2
84.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83CUP 20.03
$1.62฿52.8
-48.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.49CUP 59.8
$1.18฿38.40
111.02%
Eggs
$3.19CUP 76.5
$2.01฿65.4
58.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.96CUP 143
$15.89฿517
-62.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.40CUP 130
$3.01฿98.0
79.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.73CUP 282
$10.77฿350
8.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.01CUP 120
$2.61฿85.0
91.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CUP 28.28
$1.22฿39.65
-3.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37CUP 32.82
$1.70฿55.4
-19.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49CUP 35.65
$1.58฿51.2
-5.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89CUP 45.24
$1.32฿42.89
43.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92CUP 70.2
$1.17฿38.01
149.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.26
$0.67฿21.85
50.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08CUP 25.84
$0.56฿18.21
92.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46CUP 83.0
$4.53฿147
-23.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05CUP 241
$18.20฿592
-44.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70CUP 40.75
$1.83฿59.6
-7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90CUP 45.52
$3.23฿105
-41.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19CUP 4.47
$0.89฿28.83
-78.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.67CUP 472
$19.38฿630
1.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30CUP 55.3
$1.35฿43.95
70.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42CUP 9.97
$1.35฿43.79
-68.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.33CUP 488
$8.25฿268
146.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23CUP 29.63
$1.27฿41.40
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.4KCUP 1.7M
$21.2K฿687.8K
237.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$78.8KCUP 1.9M
$22.5K฿731.0K
250.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.35CUP 848
$70.2฿2,281
-49.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.35CUP 968
$13.77฿448
193.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$246CUP 5,914
$17.60฿572
1300.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.71CUP 953
$41.57฿1,352
-4.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84CUP 356
$6.60฿215
124.85%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99CUP 23.65
$5.78฿188
-82.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118CUP 2,836
$306฿9,953
-61.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4KCUP 416.7K
$14.8K฿482.0K
17.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4CUP 1,328
$54.4฿1,768
1.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.55CUP 949
$26.14฿850
51.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.31CUP 1,088
$84.5฿2,748
-46.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.82CUP 1,196
$69.4฿2,257
-28.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211CUP 5,062
$424฿13.8K
-50.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665CUP 16.0K
$238฿7,743
179.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384CUP 9,216
$825฿26.8K
-53.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689CUP 16.5K
$515฿16.7K
33.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$392CUP 9,404
$2,049฿66.6K
-80.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$349CUP 8,382
$1,523฿49.5K
-77.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$21.67CUP 520
$635฿20.6K
-96.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
5
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mayari: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $211 in Mayari versus $424 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 2831% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Mayari versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $243 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mayari vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mayari or Chiang Mai?
Mayari costs about 79% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Mayari vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,283 per month in Mayari and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mayari 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 Mayari and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Mayari and $306 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 Mayari or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Mayari, 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 $800/month in Mayari or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,522 in Mayari and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mayari or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,522 in Mayari. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mayari 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 Mayari or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mayari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.