😐A single person spends $1,029 per month in Saint Ann's Bay vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,626 per month in Saint Ann's Bay vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,223 per month in Saint Ann's Bay vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Saint Ann's Bay costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Saint Ann's Bay and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Saint Ann's Bay25% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.54JMD 2,441
$2.10฿69.3
640.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.54JMD 7,781
$19.84฿656
149.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.64JMD 1,357
$5.79฿191
49.22%
Cappuccino
$5.19JMD 815
$1.83฿60.4
183.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20JMD 188
$0.78฿25.61
53.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73JMD 114
$0.31฿10.37
135.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26JMD 355
$2.34฿77.2
-3.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10JMD 487
$3.70฿122
-16.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.21JMD 662
$2.03฿67.1
107.39%
White Bread(500g)
$3.84JMD 604
$1.60฿52.7
140.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 254
$1.42฿46.75
14.08%
Eggs
$3.52JMD 553
$2.18฿71.9
61.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.31JMD 1,776
$15.91฿526
-28.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39JMD 1,003
$3.07฿102
108.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.43JMD 1,638
$9.87฿326
5.67%
Apples(1kg)
$5.92JMD 929
$2.63฿86.8
125.10%
Banana(1kg)
$3.78JMD 594
$1.10฿36.19
243.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.59JMD 1,193
$1.63฿53.8
365.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13JMD 491
$1.53฿50.6
104.58%
Potato(1kg)
$3.29JMD 516
$1.24฿41.13
165.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63JMD 413
$1.13฿37.37
132.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.03JMD 476
$0.74฿24.38
309.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47JMD 231
$0.50฿16.48
194.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.37JMD 1,472
$4.28฿141
118.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.52JMD 1,809
$17.97฿594
-35.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92JMD 459
$1.70฿56.1
71.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91JMD 614
$2.90฿95.7
34.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.94฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17JMD 184
$1.23฿40.76
-4.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.12JMD 491
$0.53฿17.66
488.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.38JMD 1,002
$2.40฿79.3
165.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32JMD 207
$1.44฿47.55
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9KJMD 7.1M
$21.2K฿700.2K
111.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KJMD 5.1M
$27.3K฿902.1K
19.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178JMD 28.0K
$64.9฿2,145
174.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.66JMD 4,659
$13.35฿441
122.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6JMD 8,426
$20.83฿688
157.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.42฿1,336
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.17JMD 2,069
$6.71฿222
96.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$356JMD 55.9K
$787฿26.0K
-54.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,294JMD 1.3M
$15.1K฿499.6K
-45.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.11JMD 3,787
$56.2฿1,858
-57.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.22JMD 5,061
$24.95฿824
29.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9JMD 12.1K
$92.7฿3,063
-17.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101JMD 15.9K
$75.1฿2,482
34.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$484฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$287฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$910฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$531฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,980฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,451฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Ann's Bay
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.45
5.57
69.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Ann's Bay: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $242 – 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
Saint Ann's Bay vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint Ann's Bay or Chiang Mai?
Saint Ann's Bay costs about 8% 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 Saint Ann's Bay and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Saint Ann's Bay and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Saint Ann's Bay and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay 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 Saint Ann's Bay or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Saint Ann's Bay, 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 Saint Ann's Bay or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Saint Ann's Bay at $1,029. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Ann's Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saint Ann's Bay or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Saint Ann's Bay 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 Saint Ann's Bay or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Ann's Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Saint Ann's Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared