😐A single person spends $1,052 per month in Roche Terre vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,744 per month in Roche Terre vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,436 per month in Roche Terre vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Roche Terre costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Roche Terre and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Roche Terre21% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57MUR 307
$1.96฿63.6
235.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.63MUR 2,086
$18.81฿611
137.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09MUR 331
$7.92฿258
-10.48%
Cappuccino
$2.55MUR 119
$1.91฿62.2
33.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02MUR 47.69
$0.84฿27.25
21.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.54
$0.35฿11.44
62.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24MUR 105
$2.21฿71.7
1.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34MUR 156
$3.80฿124
-12.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MUR 76.6
$1.64฿53.2
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MUR 33.36
$1.62฿52.8
-56.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MUR 59.9
$1.18฿38.40
8.47%
Eggs
$2.24MUR 105
$2.01฿65.4
11.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.77MUR 550
$15.89฿517
-25.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.35MUR 297
$3.01฿98.0
110.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.43MUR 581
$10.77฿350
15.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03MUR 95.1
$2.61฿85.0
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MUR 93.9
$1.22฿39.65
64.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51MUR 70.6
$1.70฿55.4
-11.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71MUR 127
$1.58฿51.2
71.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MUR 46.44
$1.32฿42.89
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MUR 47.49
$1.17฿38.01
-12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.34
$0.67฿21.85
25.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82MUR 38.13
$0.56฿18.21
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.69MUR 313
$4.53฿147
47.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.80MUR 411
$18.20฿592
-51.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 80.2
$1.83฿59.6
-6.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19MUR 102
$3.23฿105
-32.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 48.66
$0.89฿28.83
16.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.42MUR 207
$1.35฿43.95
227.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68MUR 125
$1.35฿43.79
98.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.53MUR 913
$8.25฿268
136.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 65.9
$1.27฿41.40
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
$21.2K฿687.8K
67.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3KMUR 1.4M
$22.5K฿731.0K
30.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.39MUR 2,309
$70.2฿2,281
-29.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.04MUR 844
$13.77฿448
31.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.60MUR 1,571
$17.60฿572
90.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.92MUR 1,820
$41.57฿1,352
-6.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MUR 277
$5.78฿188
2.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157MUR 7,316
$306฿9,953
-48.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,900MUR 182.3K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-73.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6MUR 3,910
$54.4฿1,768
53.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$79.5MUR 3,715
$26.14฿850
203.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MUR 6,173
$84.5฿2,748
56.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0MUR 4,440
$69.4฿2,257
36.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$517MUR 24.1K
$424฿13.8K
21.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349MUR 16.3K
$238฿7,743
46.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$934MUR 43.6K
$825฿26.8K
13.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$720MUR 33.6K
$515฿16.7K
39.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roche Terre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5
33.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roche Terre: April 27, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $517 in Roche Terre 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Roche Terre versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Roche Terre vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Roche Terre 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
Roche Terre vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roche Terre or Chiang Mai?
Roche Terre costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Roche Terre vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,578 per month in Roche Terre and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Roche Terre 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 dining costs compare in Roche Terre vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Roche Terre and $19.00 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 Roche Terre or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Roche Terre – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Roche Terre or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Roche Terre at $1,052. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roche Terre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Roche Terre or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,052 in Roche Terre. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Roche Terre 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 Roche Terre or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roche Terre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Roche Terre vs other spots: cost of living compared