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 $4,385 per month in Saint George vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,584 per month in Saint George vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,782 per month in Saint George vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Saint George costs about 409% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saint George sits 228% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.4 BMD 60.4

$1.96 ฿65.8

2980.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$181 BMD 181

$18.35 ฿617

884.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.25 BMD 15.25

$7.48 ฿252

103.88%

Cappuccino

$6.41 BMD 6.41

$2.02 ฿67.8

217.33%

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

$3.48 BMD 3.48

$0.85 ฿28.50

309.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 BMD 2.96

$0.36 ฿11.96

722.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.95 BMD 9.95

$2.14 ฿71.8

364.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.64 BMD 8.64

$3.59 ฿121

140.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.32 BMD 4.32

$1.65 ฿55.5

161.82%

White Bread (500g)

$8.95 BMD 8.95

$1.57 ฿52.7

470.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 BMD 3.97

$1.19 ฿40.02

233.61%

Eggs

$7.35 BMD 7.35

$1.94 ฿65.1

278.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 BMD 7.71

$16.19 ฿544

-52.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.26 BMD 24.26

$2.99 ฿101

711.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.65 BMD 25.65

$10.94 ฿368

134.46%

Apples (1kg)

$10.19 BMD 10.19

$2.71 ฿91.2

276.01%

Banana (1kg)

$6.41 BMD 6.41

$1.17 ฿39.25

447.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.94 BMD 8.94

$1.69 ฿56.7

428.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.45 BMD 9.45

$1.60 ฿54.0

490.62%

Potato (1kg)

$8.47 BMD 8.47

$1.38 ฿46.54

513.77%

Onion (1kg)

$5.22 BMD 5.22

$1.20 ฿40.45

335.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.10 BMD 6.10

$0.67 ฿22.50

810.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.28 BMD 3.28

$0.56 ฿18.73

485.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.81 BMD 17.81

$4.64 ฿156

283.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.83 BMD 24.83

$17.62 ฿593

40.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.30 BMD 5.30

$1.86 ฿62.5

184.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 BMD 4.38

$3.30 ฿111

32.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.39 BMD 6.39

$1.36 ฿45.90

369.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.6 BMD 53.6

$8.21 ฿276

552.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.37 BMD 2.37

$1.22 ฿41.18

94.26%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$21.4K ฿718.1K

63.74%

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

$39.4K BMD 39.4K

$22.5K ฿757.7K

75.04%

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

$239 BMD 239

$70.7 ฿2,376

237.50%

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

$119 BMD 119

$14.04 ฿472

746.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$156 BMD 156

$17.49 ฿588

793.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.9 BMD 98.9

$42.15 ฿1,417

134.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.7 BMD 75.7

$6.88 ฿231

1000.00%

Cinema Ticket

$13.74 BMD 13.74

$5.92 ฿199

132.09%

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

$1,313 BMD 1,313

$309 ฿10.4K

325.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K BMD 24.9K

$14.9K ฿500.4K

67.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.41 BMD 29.41

$55.8 ฿1,875

-47.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.6 BMD 59.6

$26.11 ฿878

128.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 BMD 139

$83.0 ฿2,792

67.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$70.5 ฿2,369

80.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,508 BMD 2,508

$432 ฿14.5K

480.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 BMD 2,183

$239 ฿8,035

813.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,688 BMD 3,688

$822 ฿27.7K

348.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,417 BMD 3,417

$512 ฿17.2K

567.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Saint George versus $432 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 $181 in Saint George versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $756 vs $243 – 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 409% 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 $6,578 per month in Saint George and $1,292 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 $181 in Saint George and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 211% 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 $861, than in Saint George at $4,385. 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 $861 versus $4,385 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.