Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint George and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint George and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,430 per month in Saint George vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,697 per month in Saint George vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,964 per month in Saint George vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint George costs about 411% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint George sits 231% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.5 BMD 59.5

$1.94 ฿63.5

2964.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$179 BMD 179

$18.64 ฿609

862.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.02 BMD 15.02

$7.82 ฿255

92.07%

Cappuccino

$6.32 BMD 6.32

$1.95 ฿63.8

224.10%

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

$3.50 BMD 3.50

$0.85 ฿27.77

311.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 BMD 2.86

$0.35 ฿11.58

717.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.80 BMD 9.80

$2.13 ฿69.6

360.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.74 BMD 8.74

$3.73 ฿122

134.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$1.71 ฿56.0

165.50%

White Bread (500g)

$8.53 BMD 8.53

$1.63 ฿53.2

423.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 BMD 3.89

$1.14 ฿37.15

241.23%

Eggs

$7.49 BMD 7.49

$1.93 ฿63.1

288.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 BMD 7.65

$16.21 ฿530

-52.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.35 BMD 24.35

$3.12 ฿102

680.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.52 BMD 25.52

$10.90 ฿356

134.13%

Apples (1kg)

$10.21 BMD 10.21

$2.75 ฿90.0

271.27%

Banana (1kg)

$6.20 BMD 6.20

$1.21 ฿39.52

412.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.99 BMD 8.99

$1.62 ฿53.0

454.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.20 BMD 9.20

$1.59 ฿51.8

478.62%

Potato (1kg)

$8.42 BMD 8.42

$1.40 ฿45.70

501.43%

Onion (1kg)

$5.03 BMD 5.03

$1.17 ฿38.17

329.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.88 BMD 5.88

$0.66 ฿21.60

790.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 BMD 3.29

$0.53 ฿17.22

520.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.76 BMD 17.76

$4.69 ฿153

278.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.25 BMD 25.25

$18.66 ฿609

35.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.46 BMD 5.46

$1.80 ฿58.8

203.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 BMD 4.53

$3.23 ฿106

40.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$1.41 ฿45.91

342.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.6 BMD 53.6

$7.84 ฿256

583.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.30 BMD 2.30

$1.27 ฿41.58

81.10%

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

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

66.85%

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

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

$22.2K ฿725.4K

78.07%

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

$238 BMD 238

$69.1 ฿2,256

244.48%

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

$120 BMD 120

$14.08 ฿460

750.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$153 BMD 153

$18.00 ฿588

751.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.6 BMD 99.6

$41.06 ฿1,341

142.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$76.3 BMD 76.3

$6.96 ฿227

996.26%

Cinema Ticket

$13.36 BMD 13.36

$5.92 ฿193

125.68%

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

$1,338 BMD 1,338

$299 ฿9,766

347.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K BMD 24.4K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

62.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.17 BMD 30.17

$54.7 ฿1,787

-44.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 BMD 61.1

$26.77 ฿874

128.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 BMD 136

$85.0 ฿2,776

59.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BMD 125

$70.6 ฿2,306

76.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 BMD 2,513

$428 ฿14.0K

487.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,160 BMD 2,160

$237 ฿7,752

810.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 BMD 3,778

$801 ฿26.2K

371.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,492 BMD 3,492

$515 ฿16.8K

577.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

30.00%

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

Last update for Saint George: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,513 in Saint George 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 $179 in Saint George versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $753 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

Saint George vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint George costs about 411% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,646 per month in Saint George 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $179 in Saint George and $19.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 206% more in Saint George, 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 Saint George at $4,430. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $4,430 in Saint George. 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, Saint George makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.