Cost of Living Comparison Between Oral and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Oral and Chiang Mai

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Oral vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,107 per month in Oral vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Oral vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Oral is about 21% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Oral and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Oral 46% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.55 ₸3,835

$2.08 ฿69.5

311.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.83 ₸15.6K

$19.61 ฿655

77.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 ₸3,849

$5.67 ฿189

51.50%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₸861

$1.81 ฿60.3

6.08%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸458

$0.77 ฿25.65

32.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸285

$0.35 ฿11.53

82.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ₸384

$2.21 ฿73.9

-61.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₸876

$3.79 ฿127

-48.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₸663

$2.05 ฿68.4

-27.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸208

$1.51 ฿50.6

-69.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 ₸763

$1.40 ฿46.69

21.43%

Eggs

$1.54 ₸689

$2.26 ฿75.4

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 ₸4,046

$16.19 ฿540

-44.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 ₸1,969

$2.90 ฿96.7

51.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.03 ₸4,945

$9.42 ฿314

17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 ₸562

$2.68 ฿89.4

-53.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 ₸903

$1.09 ฿36.37

84.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₸1,031

$1.62 ฿54.0

41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 ₸1,542

$1.46 ฿48.74

135.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ₸193

$1.28 ฿42.65

-66.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.35 ₸158

$1.06 ฿35.31

-66.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₸302

$0.72 ฿23.94

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₸492

$0.53 ฿17.56

107.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₸979

$4.23 ฿141

-48.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 ₸3,477

$18.29 ฿611

-57.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₸290

$1.63 ฿54.4

-60.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸93.8

$0.88 ฿29.32

-76.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₸306

$1.17 ฿39.14

-41.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 ₸2,436

$2.39 ฿79.6

127.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 ₸268

$1.45 ฿48.41

-58.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.8K ₸13.8M

$26.4K ฿882.0K

16.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.9 ₸37.6K

$63.7 ฿2,125

31.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.80 ₸3,947

$12.89 ฿430

-31.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.70 ₸6,591

$20.52 ฿685

-28.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 ₸24.9K

$39.02 ฿1,302

42.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 ₸1,474

$6.58 ฿220

-50.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.89 ₸15.2K

$55.1 ฿1,840

-38.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 ₸125.6K

$490 ฿16.4K

-42.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 ₸95.0K

$288 ฿9,620

-26.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₸203.4K

$891 ฿29.8K

-49.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 ₸139.9K

$521 ฿17.4K

-40.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 ₸194.0K

$602 ฿20.1K

-28.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Oral: September 12, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Oral 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 39% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $35.00 in Oral versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Oral vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Oral 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

Oral vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Oral, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,109 per month in Oral and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oral, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $739 in Oral and $932 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Oral, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Oral it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oral costs $739 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Oral. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.