Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,199 per month in Roseau vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Roseau vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,887 per month in Roseau vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Roseau costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Roseau and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Roseau 11% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 EC$19.84

$1.94 ฿63.5

278.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 EC$148

$18.64 ฿609

193.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 EC$17.94

$7.82 ฿255

-15.09%

Cappuccino

$4.06 EC$10.96

$1.95 ฿63.8

108.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 EC$6.64

$0.85 ฿27.77

189.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 EC$6.05

$0.35 ฿11.58

540.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 EC$4.89

$2.13 ฿69.6

-15.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 EC$6.95

$3.73 ฿122

-31.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.02 EC$8.17

$1.71 ฿56.0

76.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 EC$4.67

$1.63 ฿53.2

6.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 EC$2.40

$1.14 ฿37.15

-21.93%

Eggs

$5.42 EC$14.64

$1.93 ฿63.1

180.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.24 EC$6.04

$16.21 ฿530

-86.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.27 EC$27.73

$3.12 ฿102

229.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.20 EC$32.94

$10.90 ฿356

11.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 EC$17.13

$2.75 ฿90.0

130.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 EC$5.95

$1.21 ฿39.52

81.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 EC$12.98

$1.62 ฿53.0

196.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 EC$14.21

$1.59 ฿51.8

230.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 EC$8.85

$1.40 ฿45.70

134.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.10 EC$8.38

$1.17 ฿38.17

164.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 EC$5.79

$0.66 ฿21.60

224.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 EC$7.61

$0.53 ฿17.22

432.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

Wine (Bottle)

$11.21 EC$30.26

$18.66 ฿609

-39.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 EC$7.50

$1.80 ฿58.8

54.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 EC$7.96

$3.23 ฿106

-8.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.06 EC$86.6

$19.21 ฿628

66.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 EC$9.83

$1.41 ฿45.91

158.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.74 EC$10.10

$1.29 ฿42.12

189.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.43 EC$28.16

$7.84 ฿256

33.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 EC$3.64

$1.27 ฿41.58

6.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.5K EC$90.6K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

57.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.8K EC$80.4K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

34.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 EC$377

$69.1 ฿2,256

102.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$41.84 EC$113

$14.08 ฿460

197.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.9 EC$154

$18.00 ฿588

215.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.52 EC$126

$41.06 ฿1,341

13.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.13 EC$62.5

$6.96 ฿227

232.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.41 EC$22.71

$5.92 ฿193

42.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$109 EC$294

$299 ฿9,766

-63.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 EC$8,850

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-78.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 EC$212

$54.7 ฿1,787

43.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.74 EC$126

$26.77 ฿874

74.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 EC$263

$85.0 ฿2,776

14.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 EC$245

$70.6 ฿2,306

28.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 EC$759

$428 ฿14.0K

-34.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 EC$539

$237 ฿7,752

-15.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 EC$2,432

$801 ฿26.2K

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 EC$1,679

$515 ฿16.8K

20.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$123 EC$331

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-93.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$57.3 EC$155

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-96.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 EC$1,311

$617 ฿20.2K

-21.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.6

52.00%

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

Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Roseau 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.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Roseau versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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

Roseau vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Roseau costs about 38% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,799 per month in Roseau and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $109 per month in Roseau and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Roseau, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Roseau at $1,199. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roseau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,199 in Roseau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roseau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.