😐A single person spends $1,494 per month in Moroni vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,229 per month in Moroni vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,963 per month in Moroni vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Moroni costs about 72% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Moroni sits 11% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19KMF 2,630
$1.98฿64.3
212.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.55KMF 8,309
$18.80฿612
3.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.02KMF 3,409
$7.75฿252
3.48%
Cappuccino
$1.86KMF 791
$1.92฿62.5
-3.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00KMF 427
$0.79฿25.79
26.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65KMF 276
$0.36฿11.62
80.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.05KMF 447
$2.21฿72.1
-52.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98KMF 842
$3.66฿119
-45.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.55KMF 1,933
$1.65฿53.8
175.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60KMF 257
$1.63฿53.2
-63.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79KMF 761
$1.19฿38.86
50.42%
Eggs
$5.30KMF 2,254
$2.00฿65.1
165.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.75KMF 3,296
$15.98฿520
-51.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.03฿98.5
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.71KMF 5,401
$10.86฿354
17.03%
Apples(1kg)
$5.27KMF 2,239
$2.76฿90.0
90.94%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.18฿38.42
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.15KMF 1,762
$1.52฿49.51
173.03%
Potato(1kg)
$4.77KMF 2,029
$1.38฿45.10
245.65%
Onion(1kg)
$3.28KMF 1,396
$1.19฿38.84
175.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30KMF 977
$0.70฿22.86
228.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33KMF 563
$0.56฿18.13
137.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.58฿149
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.23KMF 7,326
$16.56฿539
4.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99KMF 422
$1.83฿59.5
-45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80KMF 2,891
$3.20฿104
112.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61KMF 259
$0.88฿28.56
-30.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.00KMF 14.0K
$18.72฿610
76.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67KMF 284
$1.36฿44.16
-50.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89KMF 379
$1.34฿43.65
-33.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.30KMF 5,231
$7.84฿256
56.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.08KMF 1,310
$1.23฿39.92
150.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KKMF 8.4M
$21.6K฿704.3K
-8.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9KKMF 7.6M
$22.5K฿734.3K
-20.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115KMF 49.0K
$70.5฿2,298
63.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.81KMF 15.2K
$13.68฿445
161.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8KMF 32.2K
$17.45฿568
334.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.20KMF 15.4K
$41.33฿1,346
-12.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.95KMF 5,929
$6.96฿227
100.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60KMF 2,805
$5.77฿188
14.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$416KMF 177.0K
$307฿10.0K
35.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7KKMF 6.3M
$14.6K฿475.9K
0.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5KMF 27.0K
$55.8฿1,817
13.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6KMF 26.6K
$26.21฿854
138.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114KMF 48.6K
$85.8฿2,793
33.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9KMF 36.9K
$72.2฿2,353
20.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751KMF 319.4K
$430฿14.0K
74.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617KMF 262.2K
$239฿7,774
158.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,421KMF 604.1K
$817฿26.6K
73.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169KMF 496.8K
$511฿16.6K
128.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,583KMF 673.0K
$1,983฿64.6K
-20.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,373KMF 583.7K
$1,484฿48.3K
-7.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moroni
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$684KMF 290.7K
$619฿20.2K
10.51%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $751 in Moroni versus $430 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 11% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $241 – 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 72% 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 $2,242 per month in Moroni and $1,303 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 $416 per month in Moroni and $307 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 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 Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Moroni at $1,494. 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 $869 versus $1,494 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.