😐A single person spends $1,461 per month in Moroni vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,156 per month in Moroni vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,851 per month in Moroni vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Moroni costs about 57% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Moroni sits 7% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.41KMF 2,747
$2.08฿69.2
208.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.69KMF 8,432
$19.61฿652
0.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23KMF 3,525
$5.67฿189
45.15%
Cappuccino
$1.77KMF 760
$1.81฿60.0
-2.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05KMF 451
$0.77฿25.55
36.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65KMF 276
$0.35฿11.48
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08KMF 463
$2.21฿73.6
-51.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94KMF 832
$3.79฿126
-48.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.47KMF 1,916
$2.05฿68.1
118.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56KMF 240
$1.51฿50.4
-62.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77KMF 759
$1.40฿46.51
26.43%
Eggs
$5.06KMF 2,166
$2.26฿75.1
123.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74KMF 3,314
$16.19฿538
-52.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.90฿96.3
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.68KMF 5,431
$9.42฿313
34.61%
Apples(1kg)
$5.23KMF 2,242
$2.68฿89.1
95.15%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.09฿36.23
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿53.8
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33KMF 1,854
$1.46฿48.55
196.58%
Potato(1kg)
$4.77KMF 2,042
$1.28฿42.48
272.66%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17KMF 1,356
$1.06฿35.17
199.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33KMF 1,000
$0.72฿23.85
223.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32KMF 565
$0.53฿17.49
149.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.23฿141
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.50KMF 7,495
$18.29฿608
-4.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93KMF 399
$1.63฿54.2
-42.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.74KMF 2,887
$2.90฿96.5
132.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63KMF 271
$0.88฿29.20
-28.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.87KMF 14.1K
$53.8฿1,788
-38.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67KMF 286
$1.17฿38.99
-42.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00KMF 427
$0.58฿19.22
72.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.86KMF 5,080
$2.39฿79.3
396.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.09KMF 1,324
$1.45฿48.22
113.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KKMF 8.3M
$21.0K฿698.6K
-7.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9KKMF 7.7M
$26.4K฿878.6K
-32.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117KMF 50.3K
$63.7฿2,116
84.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.34KMF 15.1K
$12.89฿429
174.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8KMF 32.0K
$20.52฿682
264.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$39.02฿1,297
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.07KMF 6,028
$3.92฿130
258.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59KMF 2,822
$6.58฿219
0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407KMF 174.2K
$784฿26.1K
-48.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KKMF 6.2M
$14.7K฿487.9K
-2.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6KMF 27.2K
$55.1฿1,833
15.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4KMF 26.3K
$24.74฿823
148.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115KMF 49.4K
$94.1฿3,130
22.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5KMF 37.0K
$74.0฿2,459
16.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737KMF 315.6K
$490฿16.3K
50.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619KMF 265.0K
$288฿9,582
114.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442KMF 617.6K
$891฿29.6K
61.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,175KMF 503.0K
$521฿17.3K
125.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,645KMF 704.5K
$1,974฿65.6K
-16.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,399KMF 599.3K
$1,444฿48.0K
-3.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$683KMF 292.4K
$602฿20.0K
13.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
5.57
-31.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moroni: September 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Moroni versus $490 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 $20.00 in Moroni versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Moroni vs $241 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 57% 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 $2,192 per month in Moroni and $1,398 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 $407 per month in Moroni and $784 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 19% 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 $932, than in Moroni at $1,461. 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 $932 versus $1,461 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.