🙂A single person spends $744 per month in Salfit vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,248 per month in Salfit vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,752 per month in Salfit vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Salfit is about 13% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Salfit and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Salfit44% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.35₪42.62
$1.96฿63.6
632.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0₪169
$18.81฿611
202.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09₪32.93
$7.92฿258
40.03%
Cappuccino
$3.70₪10.98
$1.91฿62.2
93.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₪2.39
$0.84฿27.25
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₪1.71
$0.35฿11.44
62.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.49₪16.31
$2.21฿71.7
148.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72₪16.99
$3.80฿124
50.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92₪5.71
$1.64฿53.2
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58₪1.71
$1.62฿52.8
-64.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66₪7.89
$1.18฿38.40
125.42%
Eggs
$4.03₪11.96
$2.01฿65.4
100.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.07₪18.03
$15.89฿517
-61.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.85₪20.34
$3.01฿98.0
127.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.21₪42.19
$10.77฿350
31.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.44₪4.27
$2.61฿85.0
-44.83%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82₪2.44
$1.22฿39.65
-32.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10₪3.26
$1.70฿55.4
-35.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87₪2.58
$1.58฿51.2
-44.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09₪3.23
$1.32฿42.89
-17.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80₪2.38
$1.17฿38.01
-31.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38₪4.10
$0.67฿21.85
105.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₪1.74
$0.56฿18.21
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16₪21.27
$4.53฿147
58.06%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.20฿592
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76₪8.21
$1.83฿59.6
50.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54₪7.54
$3.23฿105
-21.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.89฿28.83
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.38฿630
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.79₪8.28
$1.35฿43.95
106.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.35฿43.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.20₪42.17
$8.25฿268
72.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09₪6.21
$1.27฿41.40
64.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K₪119.1K
$21.2K฿687.8K
89.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7K₪138.8K
$22.5K฿731.0K
107.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.2₪253
$70.2฿2,281
21.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.25₪57.2
$13.77฿448
39.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.44₪141
$17.60฿572
169.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.57฿1,352
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14₪27.13
$5.78฿188
58.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$214₪636
$306฿9,953
-30.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,808₪11.3K
$14.8K฿482.0K
-74.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6₪183
$54.4฿1,768
13.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.63₪112
$26.14฿850
43.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.7₪275
$84.5฿2,748
9.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4₪215
$69.4฿2,257
4.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$424฿13.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$238฿7,743
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$825฿26.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,049฿66.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,523฿49.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salfit
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$635฿20.6K
-
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Salfit versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Salfit vs $243 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 15% 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 $1,116 per month in Salfit and $1,278 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 $57.0 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 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 Salfit or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $744 in Salfit and $852 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 $744 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 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.