😐A single person spends $1,482 per month in Moroni vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,197 per month in Moroni vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,912 per month in Moroni vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Moroni costs about 74% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Moroni sits 11% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52KMF 2,791
$2.04฿68.2
219.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.41KMF 8,302
$18.71฿624
3.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08KMF 3,457
$7.86฿262
2.80%
Cappuccino
$1.85KMF 793
$2.03฿67.7
-8.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05KMF 447
$0.80฿26.64
31.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69KMF 295
$0.35฿11.68
97.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10KMF 473
$2.14฿71.5
-48.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91KMF 819
$3.67฿122
-47.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.47KMF 1,914
$1.73฿57.6
158.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61KMF 263
$1.57฿52.4
-61.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78KMF 760
$1.20฿39.99
48.33%
Eggs
$5.06KMF 2,167
$1.97฿65.8
156.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04KMF 3,439
$16.23฿541
-50.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.06฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62KMF 5,399
$10.80฿360
16.85%
Apples(1kg)
$5.33KMF 2,282
$2.77฿92.3
92.42%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.94
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.71฿57.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20KMF 1,799
$1.59฿53.2
164.15%
Potato(1kg)
$4.69KMF 2,005
$1.39฿46.51
237.41%
Onion(1kg)
$3.27KMF 1,400
$1.16฿38.56
181.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33KMF 996
$0.66฿22.05
253.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32KMF 563
$0.52฿17.31
153.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.65฿155
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.22KMF 7,367
$17.78฿593
-3.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00KMF 429
$1.79฿59.6
-44.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90KMF 2,952
$3.34฿111
106.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61KMF 259
$0.91฿30.27
-32.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.92KMF 14.1K
$18.64฿622
76.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68KMF 292
$1.41฿47.04
-51.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94KMF 404
$1.34฿44.70
-29.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.14KMF 5,193
$8.11฿270
49.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.08KMF 1,316
$1.23฿41.16
150.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KKMF 8.5M
$21.4K฿715.1K
-7.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8KKMF 7.6M
$21.8K฿728.0K
-18.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115KMF 49.1K
$71.3฿2,379
60.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.64KMF 15.2K
$14.01฿467
154.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4KMF 32.3K
$17.93฿598
320.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.87KMF 15.3K
$40.82฿1,362
-12.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.72KMF 5,868
$6.88฿230
99.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74KMF 2,885
$5.72฿191
17.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$416KMF 178.0K
$308฿10.3K
34.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KKMF 6.3M
$14.7K฿489.7K
-0.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5KMF 27.2K
$55.8฿1,860
13.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2KMF 27.0K
$26.04฿869
142.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115KMF 49.0K
$84.8฿2,829
35.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.6KMF 37.1K
$71.0฿2,368
22.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748KMF 320.1K
$423฿14.1K
76.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626KMF 267.7K
$242฿8,088
158.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,448KMF 619.6K
$797฿26.6K
81.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193KMF 510.4K
$507฿16.9K
135.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,561KMF 668.0K
$1,918฿64.0K
-18.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,363KMF 582.9K
$1,464฿48.8K
-6.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$675KMF 288.9K
$595฿19.9K
13.48%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Moroni 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 13% 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 $19.00 in Moroni versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Moroni vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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
Moroni vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moroni or Chiang Mai?
Moroni costs about 74% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,223 per month in Moroni 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, 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 in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $416 per month in Moroni 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 Moroni or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Moroni at $1,482. 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 $852 versus $1,482 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 to 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.