🙂A single person spends $503 per month in Mirissa vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $817 per month in Mirissa vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,131 per month in Mirissa vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Mirissa is about 47% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Mirissa and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Mirissa64% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.44LKR 1,457
$2.10฿69.3
111.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.41LKR 8,348
$19.84฿656
28.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.73LKR 2,541
$5.79฿191
33.51%
Cappuccino
$2.48LKR 813
$1.83฿60.4
35.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74LKR 243
$0.78฿25.61
-5.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.31฿10.37
-19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29LKR 752
$2.34฿77.2
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07LKR 1,008
$3.70฿122
-17.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62LKR 533
$2.03฿67.1
-20.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 189
$1.60฿52.7
-64.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.77LKR 252
$1.42฿46.75
-45.77%
Eggs
$1.65LKR 544
$2.18฿71.9
-24.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.26LKR 4,358
$15.91฿526
-16.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.09LKR 1,674
$3.07฿102
65.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.46LKR 2,452
$9.87฿326
-24.42%
Apples(1kg)
$6.90LKR 2,268
$2.63฿86.8
162.36%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88LKR 290
$1.10฿36.19
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38LKR 1,438
$1.63฿53.8
168.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 409
$1.53฿50.6
-18.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00LKR 329
$1.24฿41.13
-19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79LKR 260
$1.13฿37.37
-30.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90LKR 296
$0.74฿24.38
21.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45LKR 148
$0.50฿16.48
-10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.48LKR 3,444
$4.28฿141
144.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.65LKR 4,485
$17.97฿594
-24.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91LKR 628
$1.70฿56.1
12.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92LKR 959
$2.90฿95.7
0.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 138
$1.23฿40.76
-65.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38LKR 125
$0.53฿17.66
-28.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.93LKR 305
$2.40฿79.3
-61.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27LKR 419
$1.44฿47.55
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9KLKR 9.8M
$21.2K฿700.2K
41.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KLKR 14.0M
$27.3K฿902.1K
56.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.9LKR 18.4K
$64.9฿2,145
-13.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29LKR 1,411
$13.35฿441
-67.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.66LKR 6,789
$20.83฿688
-0.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.39LKR 1,443
$6.71฿222
-34.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.41LKR 12.6K
$787฿26.0K
-95.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,242LKR 408.0K
$15.1K฿499.6K
-91.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.21LKR 6,642
$56.2฿1,858
-64.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.93LKR 5,564
$24.95฿824
-32.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6LKR 25.8K
$92.7฿3,063
-15.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.69LKR 13.7K
$75.1฿2,482
-44.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mirissa
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
5.57
127.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mirissa: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Mirissa versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Mirissa vs $242 in Chiang Mai – so Mirissa 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
Mirissa vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mirissa or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 89% more than Mirissa, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 Mirissa and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $754 per month in Mirissa and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Mirissa and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Mirissa and $20.00 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 Mirissa or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $2,000/month in Mirissa or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mirissa, where all-in costs run around $503, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Mirissa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mirissa or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mirissa costs $503 versus $950 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mirissa 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 Mirissa or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Mirissa. 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.