ðA single person spends $476 per month in Quba vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $787 per month in Quba vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,098 per month in Quba vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
ðQuba is about 44% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Quba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median â Quba64% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72âž19.93
$1.96āļŋ63.6
497.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60âž55.4
$18.81āļŋ611
73.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.92āļŋ258
-
Cappuccino
$1.15âž1.95
$1.91āļŋ62.2
-39.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49âž0.84
$0.84āļŋ27.25
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30âž0.52
$0.35āļŋ11.44
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32âž2.24
$2.21āļŋ71.7
-40.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.80āļŋ124
-
ð Groceries & Markets
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.64āļŋ53.2
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.40âž0.68
$1.62āļŋ52.8
-75.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19âž2.02
$1.18āļŋ38.40
0.85%
Eggs
-
$2.01āļŋ65.4
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.73âž2.95
$15.89āļŋ517
-89.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99âž5.08
$3.01āļŋ98.0
-0.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.00âž15.31
$10.77āļŋ350
-16.43%
Apples(1kg)
$0.68âž1.15
$2.61āļŋ85.0
-73.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26âž2.14
$1.22āļŋ39.65
3.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78âž3.03
$1.70āļŋ55.4
4.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96âž3.33
$1.58āļŋ51.2
24.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85âž1.45
$1.32āļŋ42.89
-35.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49âž0.84
$1.17āļŋ38.01
-58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.67āļŋ21.85
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58âž0.98
$0.56āļŋ18.21
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.53āļŋ147
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19âž17.32
$18.20āļŋ592
-44.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26âž2.14
$1.83āļŋ59.6
-31.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23āļŋ105
-
ð Getting Around
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25âž0.42
$0.89āļŋ28.83
-71.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38āļŋ630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21âž2.05
$1.35āļŋ43.95
-10.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57âž0.97
$1.35āļŋ43.79
-57.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97âž5.05
$8.25āļŋ268
-64.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63âž1.07
$1.27āļŋ41.40
-50.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2Kāļŋ687.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$22.5Kāļŋ731.0K
-
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.2āļŋ2,281
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.64âž24.89
$13.77āļŋ448
6.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.86âž25.26
$17.60āļŋ572
-15.57%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.66âž64.0
$41.57āļŋ1,352
-9.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60āļŋ215
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.02âž6.83
$5.78āļŋ188
-30.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306āļŋ9,953
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.8Kāļŋ482.0K
-
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.72âž30.13
$54.4āļŋ1,768
-67.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.94âž50.9
$26.14āļŋ850
14.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$84.5āļŋ2,748
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.15âž59.8
$69.4āļŋ2,257
-49.37%
ð Accommodation & Living
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$176âž299
$424āļŋ13.8K
-58.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120âž204
$238āļŋ7,743
-49.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263âž446
$825āļŋ26.8K
-68.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178âž303
$515āļŋ16.7K
-65.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049āļŋ66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523āļŋ49.5K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$206âž349
$635āļŋ20.6K
-67.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5
300.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quba: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $176 in Quba versus $424 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.
ð°Salaries run about 209% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Quba versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story â $121 in Quba vs $243 in Chiang Mai â so Quba 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
Quba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quba or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 79% more than Quba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Quba vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $715 per month in Quba and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quba or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Quba compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $476 in Quba and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Quba or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 101% 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.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Quba or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably â all-in costs are $476 in Quba and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quba or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quba costs $476 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quba 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Quba or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Quba. 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.