🙂A single person spends $549 per month in Quba vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $885 per month in Quba vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,221 per month in Quba vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Quba is about 42% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Quba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Quba60% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02₼13.62
$2.10฿69.3
281.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.54₼50.2
$19.84฿656
48.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78₼9.82
$5.79฿191
-0.17%
Cappuccino
$1.17₼1.99
$1.83฿60.4
-36.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₼0.78
$0.78฿25.61
-41.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28₼0.47
$0.31฿10.37
-9.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16₼1.97
$2.34฿77.2
-50.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₼4.03
$3.70฿122
-35.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36₼2.30
$2.03฿67.1
-33.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33₼0.56
$1.60฿52.7
-79.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20₼2.04
$1.42฿46.75
-15.49%
Eggs
$1.12₼1.90
$2.18฿71.9
-48.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.71₼2.90
$15.91฿526
-89.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98₼5.07
$3.07฿102
-2.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.88₼15.09
$9.87฿326
-10.03%
Apples(1kg)
$0.62₼1.06
$2.63฿86.8
-76.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32₼2.24
$1.10฿36.19
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42₼2.42
$1.63฿53.8
-12.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04₼1.77
$1.53฿50.6
-32.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64₼1.08
$1.24฿41.13
-48.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₼0.83
$1.13฿37.37
-56.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44₼0.74
$0.74฿24.38
-40.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59₼1.01
$0.50฿16.48
18.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50₼5.95
$4.28฿141
-18.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.26₼8.93
$17.97฿594
-70.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₼1.49
$1.70฿56.1
-48.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₼3.31
$2.90฿95.7
-32.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₼0.42
$0.94฿31.13
-73.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15₼1.96
$1.23฿40.76
-6.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₼0.51
$0.53฿17.66
-43.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88₼4.89
$2.40฿79.3
20.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62₼1.06
$1.44฿47.55
-56.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K₼45.4K
$21.2K฿700.2K
26.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K₼44.4K
$27.3K฿902.1K
-4.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.10₼58.0
$64.9฿2,145
-47.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89₼21.90
$13.35฿441
-3.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.44₼24.54
$20.83฿688
-30.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.90₼64.4
$40.42฿1,336
-6.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.20₼7.14
$6.71฿222
-37.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281₼477
$787฿26.0K
-64.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K₼27.5K
$15.1K฿499.6K
7.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.80₼30.25
$56.2฿1,858
-68.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.11₼49.47
$24.95฿824
16.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130₼221
$92.7฿3,063
40.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.00₼59.5
$75.1฿2,482
-53.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177₼301
$484฿16.0K
-63.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$119₼202
$287฿9,491
-58.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269₼458
$910฿30.1K
-70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180₼305
$531฿17.5K
-66.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quba
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$206₼351
$605฿20.0K
-65.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5.57
259.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quba: September 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Quba 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 193% 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 $30.00 in Quba versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $125 in Quba vs $242 in Chiang Mai – 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 73% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $823 per month in Quba 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, 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 do dining costs compare in Quba and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Quba and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Quba or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 93% 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 $2,000/month in Quba or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quba, where all-in costs run around $549, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Quba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quba or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quba costs $549 versus $950 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Quba or to 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.