🙂A single person spends $792 per month in Sale vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,237 per month in Sale vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Sale vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Sale is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sale and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sale41% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58MAD 42.37
$1.96฿64.0
133.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.93MAD 305
$18.81฿615
75.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.61MAD 61.2
$7.92฿259
-16.54%
Cappuccino
$2.06MAD 19.08
$1.91฿62.6
7.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.85
$0.84฿27.41
-25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40MAD 3.70
$0.35฿11.51
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.42MAD 50.1
$2.21฿72.1
145.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14MAD 38.30
$3.80฿124
8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96MAD 8.91
$1.64฿53.5
-41.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MAD 5.06
$1.62฿53.1
-66.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95MAD 18.06
$1.18฿38.62
65.25%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.39
$2.01฿65.8
-1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.02MAD 120
$15.89฿520
-18.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.00MAD 55.5
$3.01฿98.5
99.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.69MAD 108
$10.77฿352
8.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50MAD 13.90
$2.61฿85.5
-42.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MAD 12.44
$1.22฿39.88
9.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.33
$1.70฿55.7
-47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85MAD 7.82
$1.58฿51.5
-46.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.37
$1.32฿43.14
-39.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.31
$1.17฿38.23
-32.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 3.94
$0.67฿21.98
-35.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MAD 5.91
$0.56฿18.32
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36MAD 40.30
$4.53฿148
-3.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13MAD 66.0
$18.20฿595
-60.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61MAD 24.15
$1.83฿60.0
42.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MAD 23.55
$3.23฿106
-21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MAD 5.21
$0.89฿29.00
-37.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.44MAD 226
$19.38฿634
26.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.88
$1.35฿44.20
-60.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.81
$1.35฿44.05
-61.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.47MAD 41.37
$8.25฿270
-45.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60MAD 14.76
$1.27฿41.64
25.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2KMAD 344.1K
$21.2K฿691.8K
75.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KMAD 277.0K
$22.5K฿735.3K
33.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.03MAD 305
$70.2฿2,294
-52.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.91MAD 101
$13.77฿450
-20.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.43MAD 420
$17.60฿575
158.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.25MAD 132
$41.57฿1,360
-65.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.67MAD 219
$6.60฿216
258.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48MAD 59.9
$5.78฿189
12.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112MAD 1,037
$306฿10.0K
-63.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,300MAD 58.3K
$14.8K฿484.8K
-57.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.36MAD 392
$54.4฿1,778
-22.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.69MAD 460
$26.14฿855
90.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 987
$84.5฿2,764
26.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100MAD 927
$69.4฿2,270
44.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MAD 2,620
$424฿13.9K
-33.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,617
$238฿7,788
-26.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501MAD 4,631
$825฿27.0K
-39.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$303MAD 2,805
$515฿16.8K
-41.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,201MAD 11.1K
$2,049฿67.0K
-41.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$852MAD 7,882
$1,523฿49.8K
-44.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sale
Chiang Mai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$410MAD 3,792
$635฿20.8K
-35.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.81
5
-3.80%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Sale: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Sale versus $424 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 55% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Sale versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Sale vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Sale wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Sale vs Chiang Mai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Sale or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Sale, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Sale vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Sale and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sale or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sale, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Sale and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Sale and $306 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Sale or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $800/month in Sale or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $792 in Sale and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sale or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sale costs $792 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sale 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 Sale or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.