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 $4,850 per month in Saint George vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,059 per month in Saint George vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,268 per month in Saint George vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint George costs about 410% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint George sits 252% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$54.1 BMD 54.1

$2.10 ฿69.3

2475.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$148 BMD 148

$19.84 ฿656

648.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.06 BMD 17.06

$5.79 ฿191

194.65%

Cappuccino

$6.28 BMD 6.28

$1.83 ฿60.4

243.17%

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

$3.16 BMD 3.16

$0.78 ฿25.61

305.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BMD 3.14

$0.31 ฿10.37

912.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.36 BMD 7.36

$2.34 ฿77.2

214.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 BMD 9.01

$3.70 ฿122

143.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.68 BMD 4.68

$2.03 ฿67.1

130.54%

White Bread (500g)

$8.49 BMD 8.49

$1.60 ฿52.7

430.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.94 BMD 3.94

$1.42 ฿46.75

177.46%

Eggs

$7.63 BMD 7.63

$2.18 ฿71.9

250.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 BMD 7.31

$15.91 ฿526

-54.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.00 BMD 23.00

$3.07 ฿102

649.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.34 BMD 25.34

$9.87 ฿326

156.74%

Apples (1kg)

$11.58 BMD 11.58

$2.63 ฿86.8

340.30%

Banana (1kg)

$6.70 BMD 6.70

$1.10 ฿36.19

509.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.88 BMD 8.88

$1.63 ฿53.8

444.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.59 BMD 9.59

$1.53 ฿50.6

526.80%

Potato (1kg)

$9.12 BMD 9.12

$1.24 ฿41.13

635.48%

Onion (1kg)

$10.85 BMD 10.85

$1.13 ฿37.37

860.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.62 BMD 6.62

$0.74 ฿24.38

794.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 BMD 3.64

$0.50 ฿16.48

628.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.83 BMD 17.83

$4.28 ฿141

316.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.92 BMD 24.92

$17.97 ฿594

38.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.05 BMD 5.05

$1.70 ฿56.1

197.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 BMD 4.43

$2.90 ฿95.7

52.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿31.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.64 BMD 6.64

$1.23 ฿40.76

439.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 BMD 2.93

$0.53 ฿17.66

452.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$69.3 BMD 69.3

$2.40 ฿79.3

2786.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.44 BMD 2.44

$1.44 ฿47.55

69.44%

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

$38.2K BMD 38.2K

$21.2K ฿700.2K

80.03%

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

$41.8K BMD 41.8K

$27.3K ฿902.1K

53.14%

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

$250 BMD 250

$64.9 ฿2,145

284.91%

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

$146 BMD 146

$13.35 ฿441

994.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$162 BMD 162

$20.83 ฿688

677.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,336

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 BMD 13.58

$6.71 ฿222

102.38%

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

$1,326 BMD 1,326

$787 ฿26.0K

68.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.2K BMD 25.2K

$15.1K ฿499.6K

66.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 BMD 88.4

$56.2 ฿1,858

57.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.2 BMD 71.2

$24.95 ฿824

185.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$92.7 ฿3,063

53.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$75.1 ฿2,482

68.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,062 BMD 3,062

$484 ฿16.0K

532.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 BMD 2,674

$287 ฿9,491

830.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,924 BMD 4,924

$910 ฿30.1K

441.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,010 BMD 4,010

$531 ฿17.5K

655.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

5.57

54.94%

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

Last update for Saint George: September 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,062 in Saint George versus $484 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 $148 in Saint George versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $776 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 George vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint George costs about 410% 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 $7,275 per month in Saint George and $1,426 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 $148 in Saint George and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 220% 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 $950, than in Saint George at $4,850. 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 $950 versus $4,850 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.