Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Redland City and Chiang Mai

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $2,309 in Redland City, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Redland City, Australia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Redland City
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,309
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Redland City and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Redland City and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,309 per month in Redland City vs $935 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redland City $2,309
  • Chiang Mai $935

A couple spends around $3,306 per month in Redland City vs $1,457 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redland City $3,306
  • Chiang Mai $1,457

A family of three spends $4,304 per month in Redland City vs $1,979 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Redland City $4,304
  • Chiang Mai $1,979

Redland City costs about 147% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Redland City sits 71% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.21 A$21.71
$2.13 ฿71.9
614.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 A$88.9
$18.62 ฿628
234.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.84 A$14.05
$5.60 ฿189
75.71%
Cappuccino
$3.79 A$5.41
$1.66 ฿56.0
128.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 A$4.17
$0.65 ฿21.80
349.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 A$2.94
$0.30 ฿10.28
586.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.86 A$11.23
$2.32 ฿78.3
238.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 A$9.04
$3.67 ฿124
72.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 A$2.26
$2.02 ฿67.9
-21.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 A$3.81
$1.41 ฿47.45
89.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.46
$1.39 ฿46.90
74.10%
Eggs
$4.96 A$7.08
$2.37 ฿79.8
109.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 A$11.80
$16.52 ฿557
-50.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 A$12.75
$2.67 ฿90.0
234.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.56 A$20.79
$9.02 ฿304
61.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 A$5.10
$2.40 ฿80.8
48.75%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 A$4.08
$1.04 ฿35.09
175.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 A$3.06
$1.66 ฿55.9
29.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.50 A$4.99
$1.56 ฿52.5
124.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 A$3.61
$1.24 ฿41.71
104.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 A$2.54
$1.09 ฿36.62
63.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 A$3.02
$0.76 ฿25.67
178.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 A$2.21
$0.51 ฿17.33
203.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$33.56 A$47.93
$4.12 ฿139
714.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.17 A$15.96
$17.93 ฿604
-37.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.89 A$6.99
$1.62 ฿54.7
201.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 A$5.91
$2.82 ฿95.1
46.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 A$0.51
$0.93 ฿31.49
-61.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.8 A$123
$52.9 ฿1,782
62.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 A$3.04
$1.18 ฿39.65
80.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 A$2.34
$0.17 ฿5.78
864.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.48 A$50.7
$1.81 ฿61.1
1860.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 A$1.97
$1.47 ฿49.63
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K A$42.3K
$21.0K ฿708.1K
40.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K A$37.7K
$26.5K ฿893.6K
-0.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.7 A$125
$62.6 ฿2,108
40.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.68 A$43.81
$11.60 ฿391
164.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 A$78.2
$20.30 ฿684
169.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.7 A$81.0
$37.88 ฿1,277
49.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.55 A$25.07
$3.70 ฿125
374.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 A$10.05
$6.51 ฿219
8.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$518 A$740
$727 ฿24.5K
-28.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,129 A$5,897
$16.6K ฿558.5K
-75.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.7 A$110
$53.5 ฿1,804
43.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 A$77.5
$24.80 ฿836
118.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 A$149
$90.4 ฿3,046
15.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9 A$143
$72.0 ฿2,425
38.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 A$1,990
$481 ฿16.2K
189.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 A$1,726
$310 ฿10.4K
289.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,235 A$3,192
$1,058 ฿35.7K
111.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,797 A$2,566
$659 ฿22.2K
172.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,956 A$8,506
$2,418 ฿81.5K
146.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,953 A$7,073
$1,609 ฿54.2K
207.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$595 ฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.69
5.57
2.15%

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

Last update for Redland City: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Redland City
$1.2K
Chiang Mai
$310 74.4% $899
Groceries & Markets
Redland City
$339
Chiang Mai
$237 30.3% $103
Eating Out
Redland City
$269
Chiang Mai
$77 71.5% $192
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
$173
Chiang Mai
$94 45.4% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
$151
Chiang Mai
$108 28.2% $43
Getting Around
Redland City
$98
Chiang Mai
$59 39.9% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
$71
Chiang Mai
$51 28.1% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,394 in Redland City versus $482 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Redland City versus $19 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $234 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Redland City
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
21:31 9:31 PM
18:31 6:31 PM
3 h behind Redland City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
159,222
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Redland City Chiang Mai 7,790 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Redland City
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Redland City vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Redland City or Chiang Mai?
Redland City costs about 147% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Redland City and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,463 per month in Redland City and $1,403 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Redland City or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,394 in Redland City.
How do childcare costs compare in Redland City and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $518 per month in Redland City and $736 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 Redland City or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Redland City, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Redland City or in Chiang Mai?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,309 in Redland City and $935 in Chiang Mai. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Redland City or Chiang Mai?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $2,309 in Redland City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Redland City compared to Chiang Mai?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 59% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Redland City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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