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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,075 per month in Midlands vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,755 per month in Midlands vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,434 per month in Midlands vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Midlands costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Midlands and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Midlands 20% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71 MUR 314
$1.96 ฿64.0
242.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.01 MUR 2,059
$18.81 ฿615
133.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 MUR 337
$7.92 ฿259
-9.09%
Cappuccino
$2.69 MUR 126
$1.91 ฿62.6
40.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MUR 44.31
$0.84 ฿27.41
13.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MUR 28.09
$0.35 ฿11.51
71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 MUR 105
$2.21 ฿72.1
1.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 MUR 150
$3.80 ฿124
-15.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 MUR 78.2
$1.64 ฿53.5
1.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MUR 32.99
$1.62 ฿53.1
-56.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 MUR 59.4
$1.18 ฿38.62
7.63%
Eggs
$2.25 MUR 105
$2.01 ฿65.8
11.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.06 MUR 564
$15.89 ฿520
-24.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.22 MUR 291
$3.01 ฿98.5
106.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 MUR 594
$10.77 ฿352
17.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 MUR 95.5
$2.61 ฿85.5
-21.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 MUR 95.4
$1.22 ฿39.88
67.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 MUR 68.1
$1.70 ฿55.7
-14.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 MUR 124
$1.58 ฿51.5
67.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 46.22
$1.32 ฿43.14
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 MUR 43.36
$1.17 ฿38.23
-20.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 MUR 39.31
$0.67 ฿21.98
25.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 MUR 37.88
$0.56 ฿18.32
44.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 MUR 317
$4.53 ฿148
49.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 MUR 392
$18.20 ฿595
-54.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MUR 80.1
$1.83 ฿60.0
-6.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 MUR 100
$3.23 ฿106
-33.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 MUR 48.30
$0.89 ฿29.00
15.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿634
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 MUR 205
$1.35 ฿44.20
223.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.74 MUR 128
$1.35 ฿44.05
102.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.93 MUR 933
$8.25 ฿270
141.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MUR 68.0
$1.27 ฿41.64
14.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K MUR 1.6M
$21.2K ฿691.8K
65.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K MUR 1.3M
$22.5K ฿735.3K
27.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.65 MUR 2,276
$70.2 ฿2,294
-30.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.58 MUR 869
$13.77 ฿450
34.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.46 MUR 1,566
$17.60 ฿575
90.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.83 MUR 1,770
$41.57 ฿1,360
-9.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60 ฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01 MUR 281
$5.78 ฿189
3.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 MUR 7,117
$306 ฿10.0K
-50.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,933 MUR 184.0K
$14.8K ฿484.8K
-73.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 MUR 3,975
$54.4 ฿1,778
56.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.3 MUR 3,664
$26.14 ฿855
199.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 MUR 6,243
$84.5 ฿2,764
57.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.9 MUR 4,391
$69.4 ฿2,270
35.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 MUR 23.8K
$424 ฿13.9K
20.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 MUR 16.7K
$238 ฿7,788
49.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 MUR 43.6K
$825 ฿27.0K
13.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 MUR 34.1K
$515 ฿16.8K
41.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,049 ฿67.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,523 ฿49.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Midlands
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$635 ฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5
33.40%

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

Last update for Midlands: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Midlands 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Midlands versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Midlands vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Midlands 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
Midlands vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Midlands or Chiang Mai?
Midlands costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Midlands vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,613 per month in Midlands 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, Midlands 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 dining costs compare in Midlands vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Midlands and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Midlands or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Midlands – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Midlands or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Midlands at $1,075. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Midlands it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Midlands or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,075 in Midlands. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Midlands 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 Midlands or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Midlands makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Midlands vs other spots: cost of living compared

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