😐A single person spends $1,516 per month in Moroni vs $845 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,242 per month in Moroni vs $1,323 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,968 per month in Moroni vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Moroni costs about 80% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Moroni sits 13% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.43KMF 2,697
$1.95฿62.8
229.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.36KMF 8,124
$18.43฿594
5.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.33KMF 3,495
$7.50฿241
11.07%
Cappuccino
$1.85KMF 777
$1.93฿62.3
-4.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05KMF 441
$0.78฿25.08
34.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70KMF 295
$0.32฿10.42
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05KMF 440
$2.15฿69.2
-51.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97KMF 826
$3.71฿120
-46.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.58KMF 1,920
$1.71฿55.2
167.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58KMF 242
$1.56฿50.3
-62.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71KMF 719
$1.18฿38.06
44.92%
Eggs
$5.12KMF 2,148
$1.98฿63.9
158.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.13KMF 3,410
$16.04฿517
-49.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.17฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65KMF 5,311
$10.94฿353
15.63%
Apples(1kg)
$5.32KMF 2,234
$2.63฿84.7
102.28%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.17฿37.61
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.65฿53.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.25KMF 1,783
$1.54฿49.51
175.97%
Potato(1kg)
$4.54KMF 1,903
$1.38฿44.34
228.99%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22KMF 1,352
$1.17฿37.54
175.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.32KMF 974
$0.66฿21.25
251.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32KMF 552
$0.51฿16.55
158.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.52฿146
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95KMF 7,533
$18.32฿590
-2.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95KMF 400
$1.80฿57.9
-47.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.76KMF 2,838
$3.18฿102
112.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60KMF 252
$0.90฿28.97
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.75KMF 13.7K
$19.00฿612
72.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73KMF 305
$1.41฿45.50
-48.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92KMF 386
$1.31฿42.15
-29.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.28KMF 5,155
$8.09฿261
51.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.03KMF 1,270
$1.28฿41.08
136.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KKMF 8.3M
$21.3K฿686.1K
-7.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9KKMF 7.5M
$21.7K฿699.3K
-17.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115KMF 48.2K
$69.2฿2,230
66.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.13KMF 14.7K
$13.97฿450
151.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0KMF 31.5K
$17.95฿578
317.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.00KMF 15.1K
$42.31฿1,363
-14.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.72KMF 5,755
$6.66฿214
106.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70KMF 2,811
$5.92฿191
13.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414KMF 173.8K
$299฿9,640
38.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KKMF 6.1M
$14.8K฿478.4K
-2.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7KMF 26.3K
$56.2฿1,810
11.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4KMF 25.8K
$26.94฿868
127.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114KMF 47.7K
$84.9฿2,735
34.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9KMF 36.9K
$71.8฿2,314
22.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$746KMF 313.2K
$435฿14.0K
71.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626KMF 262.9K
$240฿7,727
161.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,471KMF 617.4K
$798฿25.7K
84.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,197KMF 502.4K
$498฿16.1K
140.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,641KMF 688.5K
$1,995฿64.3K
-17.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,398KMF 586.5K
$1,532฿49.4K
-8.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$683KMF 286.8K
$628฿20.2K
8.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
5
-24.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moroni: April 19, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $746 in Moroni versus $435 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 9% higher in Moroni, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Moroni versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $244 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Moroni vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moroni or Chiang Mai?
Moroni costs about 80% 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 Moroni vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,274 per month in Moroni and $1,267 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Moroni 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 Moroni and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $414 per month in Moroni and $299 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 Moroni or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Moroni, 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 $1,000/month in Moroni or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Moroni at $1,516. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moroni it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Moroni or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $1,516 in Moroni. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Moroni 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 Moroni or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moroni makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.