🙂A single person spends $743 per month in Salfit vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,247 per month in Salfit vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,750 per month in Salfit vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Salfit is about 14% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Salfit and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Salfit45% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.16₪41.29
$1.98฿64.3
615.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.3₪164
$18.80฿612
199.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.34₪33.06
$7.75฿252
46.32%
Cappuccino
$3.72₪10.83
$1.92฿62.5
93.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78₪2.28
$0.79฿25.79
-1.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₪1.69
$0.36฿11.62
61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.77₪16.81
$2.21฿72.1
161.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80₪16.90
$3.66฿119
58.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02₪5.90
$1.65฿53.8
22.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53₪1.56
$1.63฿53.2
-67.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.63₪7.66
$1.19฿38.86
121.01%
Eggs
$4.07₪11.86
$2.00฿65.1
103.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.85₪17.06
$15.98฿520
-63.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.16₪20.87
$3.03฿98.5
136.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.36₪41.87
$10.86฿354
32.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43₪4.17
$2.76฿90.0
-48.19%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88₪2.56
$1.18฿38.42
-25.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12₪3.25
$1.64฿53.5
-31.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85₪2.49
$1.52฿49.51
-44.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04₪3.04
$1.38฿45.10
-24.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80₪2.33
$1.19฿38.84
-32.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37₪3.99
$0.70฿22.86
95.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₪1.68
$0.56฿18.13
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89₪20.08
$4.58฿149
50.44%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.56฿539
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68₪7.80
$1.83฿59.5
46.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53₪7.38
$3.20฿104
-20.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿28.56
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.72฿610
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85₪8.32
$1.36฿44.16
109.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿43.65
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.86₪40.41
$7.84฿256
76.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19₪6.38
$1.23฿39.92
78.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K₪115.6K
$21.6K฿704.3K
83.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.2K₪137.7K
$22.5K฿734.3K
109.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.3₪249
$70.5฿2,298
20.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01₪55.4
$13.68฿445
38.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.88₪134
$17.45฿568
162.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.33฿1,346
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.36₪27.28
$5.77฿188
62.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$215₪628
$307฿10.0K
-29.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,771₪11.0K
$14.6K฿475.9K
-74.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.2₪181
$55.8฿1,817
11.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.73₪110
$26.21฿854
43.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.6₪279
$85.8฿2,793
11.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8₪212
$72.2฿2,353
0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$430฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$817฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$511฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,983฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,484฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.62
5
12.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salfit: June 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Salfit versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Salfit vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Salfit wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Salfit vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Salfit or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Salfit, 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 Salfit vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,114 per month in Salfit and $1,303 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 Salfit vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Salfit and $19.00 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 Salfit or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 Salfit or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $743 in Salfit and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Salfit or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Salfit costs $743 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Salfit 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 Salfit or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Salfit. 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.