😐A single person spends $2,568 per month in Mudgee vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,701 per month in Mudgee vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,833 per month in Mudgee vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Mudgee costs about 170% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mudgee sits 86% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.25A$24.05
$2.10฿69.3
721.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.1A$120
$19.84฿656
333.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.24A$12.88
$5.79฿191
59.59%
Cappuccino
$3.60A$5.03
$1.83฿60.4
96.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47A$3.45
$0.78฿25.61
216.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.04
$0.31฿10.37
603.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98A$9.73
$2.34฿77.2
198.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05A$9.83
$3.70฿122
90.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22A$1.70
$2.03฿67.1
-39.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01A$4.19
$1.60฿52.7
88.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13A$2.97
$1.42฿46.75
50.00%
Eggs
$4.12A$5.74
$2.18฿71.9
88.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82A$12.30
$15.91฿526
-44.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75A$10.81
$3.07฿102
152.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.68A$12.11
$9.87฿326
-12.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12A$4.34
$2.63฿86.8
18.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64A$3.69
$1.10฿36.19
140.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.37A$4.70
$1.63฿53.8
106.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.39A$6.12
$1.53฿50.6
186.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45A$3.42
$1.24฿41.13
97.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62A$3.65
$1.13฿37.37
131.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.70A$3.76
$0.74฿24.38
264.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89A$2.64
$0.50฿16.48
278.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$46.81A$65.3
$4.28฿141
993.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.40A$20.07
$17.97฿594
-19.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.50A$6.28
$1.70฿56.1
164.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36A$6.07
$2.90฿95.7
50.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03A$4.22
$0.94฿31.13
222.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.6A$122
$55.3฿1,827
58.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55A$4.95
$1.23฿40.76
188.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66A$2.32
$0.53฿17.66
213.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.52A$56.5
$2.40฿79.3
1588.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.77
$1.44฿47.55
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.0KA$55.8K
$21.2K฿700.2K
88.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KA$35.6K
$27.3K฿902.1K
-6.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245A$341
$64.9฿2,145
276.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.59A$39.87
$13.35฿441
114.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9A$70.9
$20.83฿688
144.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.8A$79.2
$40.42฿1,336
40.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11A$25.25
$3.95฿131
358.48%
Cinema Ticket
$13.85A$19.31
$6.71฿222
106.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,212A$3,084
$787฿26.0K
181.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9KA$29.2K
$15.1K฿499.6K
38.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7A$101
$56.2฿1,858
29.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.8A$87.5
$24.95฿824
151.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$146A$204
$92.7฿3,063
57.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110A$154
$75.1฿2,482
46.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,436A$2,002
$484฿16.0K
196.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272A$1,774
$287฿9,491
342.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,272A$3,168
$910฿30.1K
149.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,891A$2,637
$531฿17.5K
256.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,573A$9,164
$1,980฿65.4K
231.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,137A$7,162
$1,451฿47.9K
254.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mudgee
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,660A$7,891
$605฿20.0K
835.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mudgee: September 5, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,436 in Mudgee versus $484 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 835% higher in Mudgee, 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 $86.0 in Mudgee versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $332 vs $242 – 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
Mudgee vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mudgee or Chiang Mai?
Mudgee costs about 170% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Mudgee and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,852 per month in Mudgee and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mudgee 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 Mudgee and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $2,212 per month in Mudgee and $787 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 Mudgee or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Mudgee, 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 Mudgee or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Mudgee at $2,568. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mudgee it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mudgee or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $2,568 in Mudgee. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mudgee 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 Mudgee or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mudgee makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.