😐A single person spends $1,514 per month in Mayari vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Mayari vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Mayari vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mayari costs about 78% 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
$6.03CUP 145
$2.04฿68.2
195.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.18CUP 484
$18.71฿624
7.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44CUP 155
$7.86฿262
-18.07%
Cappuccino
$1.33CUP 31.87
$2.03฿67.7
-34.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CUP 52.2
$0.80฿26.64
172.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24CUP 29.64
$0.35฿11.68
254.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54CUP 61.1
$2.14฿71.5
18.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97CUP 71.4
$3.67฿122
-19.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.89CUP 69.3
$1.73฿57.6
67.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79CUP 18.92
$1.57฿52.4
-49.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55CUP 61.1
$1.20฿39.99
112.50%
Eggs
$3.09CUP 74.2
$1.97฿65.8
56.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.97CUP 143
$16.23฿541
-63.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36CUP 129
$3.06฿102
75.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.81CUP 283
$10.80฿360
9.35%
Apples(1kg)
$5.05CUP 121
$2.77฿92.3
82.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22CUP 29.29
$1.17฿38.94
4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39CUP 33.31
$1.71฿57.0
-18.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49CUP 35.75
$1.59฿53.2
-6.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95CUP 46.87
$1.39฿46.51
40.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81CUP 67.4
$1.16฿38.56
142.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.29
$0.66฿22.05
53.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08CUP 25.90
$0.52฿17.31
107.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45CUP 82.8
$4.65฿155
-25.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.15CUP 244
$17.78฿593
-42.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77CUP 42.39
$1.79฿59.6
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CUP 47.18
$3.34฿111
-41.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19CUP 4.49
$0.91฿30.27
-79.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.16CUP 484
$18.64฿622
8.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32CUP 55.6
$1.41฿47.04
64.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41CUP 9.90
$1.34฿44.70
-69.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.61CUP 471
$8.11฿270
141.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CUP 29.69
$1.23฿41.16
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.0KCUP 1.7M
$21.4K฿715.1K
231.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$79.3KCUP 1.9M
$21.8K฿728.0K
263.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.70CUP 833
$71.3฿2,379
-51.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.47CUP 947
$14.01฿467
181.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$247CUP 5,917
$17.93฿598
1275.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.53CUP 949
$40.82฿1,362
-3.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.77CUP 355
$6.88฿230
114.68%
Cinema Ticket
$0.97CUP 23.35
$5.72฿191
-83.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118CUP 2,841
$308฿10.3K
-61.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8KCUP 428.3K
$14.7K฿489.7K
21.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3CUP 1,302
$55.8฿1,860
-2.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36CUP 969
$26.04฿869
54.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.37CUP 1,065
$84.8฿2,829
-47.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.6CUP 1,214
$71.0฿2,368
-28.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$215CUP 5,163
$423฿14.1K
-49.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661CUP 15.9K
$242฿8,088
172.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379CUP 9,100
$797฿26.6K
-52.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692CUP 16.6K
$507฿16.9K
36.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$400CUP 9,591
$1,918฿64.0K
-79.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$356CUP 8,535
$1,464฿48.8K
-75.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$22.02CUP 529
$595฿19.9K
-96.30%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Mayari versus $423 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 2602% 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 $244 – 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 78% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,271 per month in Mayari and $1,279 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Mayari and $308 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 1% 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 in Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,514 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 $1,514 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 to 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.