😐A single person spends $2,048 per month in Redland City vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,974 per month in Redland City vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,899 per month in Redland City vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Redland City costs about 136% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Redland City sits 53% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12A$18.29
$1.94฿63.5
576.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4A$82.7
$18.64฿609
218.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30A$12.96
$7.82฿255
18.93%
Cappuccino
$3.35A$4.66
$1.95฿63.8
71.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68A$3.73
$0.85฿27.77
215.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98A$2.75
$0.35฿11.58
465.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.51A$9.08
$2.13฿69.6
205.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75A$8.02
$3.73฿122
54.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49A$2.07
$1.71฿56.0
-12.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.56A$3.56
$1.63฿53.2
57.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24A$3.12
$1.14฿37.15
96.49%
Eggs
$4.58A$6.38
$1.93฿63.1
137.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.29A$10.16
$16.21฿530
-55.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.20A$11.43
$3.12฿102
162.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.30A$17.15
$10.90฿356
12.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32A$4.63
$2.75฿90.0
20.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63A$3.67
$1.21฿39.52
117.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00A$2.78
$1.62฿53.0
23.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.29A$4.58
$1.59฿51.8
106.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.36A$3.29
$1.40฿45.70
68.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67A$2.33
$1.17฿38.17
42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00A$2.78
$0.66฿21.60
203.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89A$2.64
$0.53฿17.22
256.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.73A$42.82
$4.69฿153
555.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.64A$16.22
$18.66฿609
-37.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.42A$6.16
$1.80฿58.8
145.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94A$5.49
$3.23฿106
21.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.55A$3.56
$0.90฿29.26
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.1A$92.2
$19.21฿628
244.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04A$2.84
$1.41฿45.91
44.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38A$1.93
$1.29฿42.12
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.98A$47.35
$7.84฿256
333.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.66
$1.27฿41.58
-6.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$40.8K
$21.3K฿694.9K
37.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KA$30.1K
$22.2K฿725.4K
-2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8A$117
$69.1฿2,256
21.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.89A$45.83
$14.08฿460
133.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9A$76.5
$18.00฿588
205.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.46A$68.9
$41.06฿1,341
20.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.57A$21.69
$6.96฿227
123.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66A$9.28
$5.92฿193
12.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$485A$676
$299฿9,766
62.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,858A$5,376
$15.0K฿488.3K
-74.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6A$84.5
$54.7฿1,787
10.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.80A$66.6
$26.77฿874
78.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2A$126
$85.0฿2,776
6.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.9A$128
$70.6฿2,306
30.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,269A$1,769
$428฿14.0K
196.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,076A$1,500
$237฿7,752
353.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,002A$2,789
$801฿26.2K
149.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,664A$2,319
$515฿16.8K
222.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redland City
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
5
20.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Redland City: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,269 in Redland City versus $428 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 $59.0 in Redland City versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $246 – 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
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 136% 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 Redland City vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,072 per month in Redland City and $1,300 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Redland City and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $485 per month in Redland City and $299 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Redland City, 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 Redland City or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Redland City at $2,048. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Redland City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Redland City or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $2,048 in Redland City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Redland City 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 Redland City or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redland City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Redland City vs other spots: cost of living compared