Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Seria and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $546 per month in Seria vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Seria vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,241 per month in Seria vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Seria is about 37% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Seria and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Seria 59% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10 BND 3.97
$1.94 ฿63.5
59.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.55 BND 35.26
$18.64 ฿609
47.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.59 BND 7.15
$7.82 ฿255
-28.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 BND 2.05
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 BND 3.07
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.85 BND 4.93
$1.95 ฿63.8
97.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 BND 1.20
$0.85 ฿27.77
10.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 BND 0.77
$0.35 ฿11.58
71.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.13 ฿69.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.73 ฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 BND 2.41
$1.71 ฿56.0
9.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 BND 1.82
$1.63 ฿53.2
-12.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 BND 1.61
$1.14 ฿37.15
10.53%
Eggs
$1.37 BND 1.76
$1.93 ฿63.1
-29.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.38 BND 8.17
$16.21 ฿530
-60.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.33 BND 5.54
$3.12 ฿102
38.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.45 BND 14.65
$10.90 ฿356
5.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 BND 3.98
$2.75 ฿90.0
13.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 BND 3.24
$1.21 ฿39.52
109.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.03 BND 3.88
$1.62 ฿53.0
87.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76 BND 3.53
$1.59 ฿51.8
73.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 BND 2.12
$1.40 ฿45.70
18.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 BND 2.74
$1.17 ฿38.17
82.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.37 BND 4.31
$0.66 ฿21.60
410.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 BND 0.96
$0.53 ฿17.22
41.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 BND 4.15
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 BND 1.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.34 BND 19.64
$4.69 ฿153
227.08%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.66 ฿609
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80 ฿58.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23 ฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.90 ฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.21 ฿628
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.81 BND 6.16
$1.41 ฿45.91
241.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.29 ฿42.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.77 BND 15.06
$7.84 ฿256
50.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.32 BND 0.41
$1.27 ฿41.58
-74.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K BND 49.8K
$21.3K ฿694.9K
82.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K BND 47.1K
$22.2K ฿725.4K
65.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.6 BND 76.3
$69.1 ฿2,256
-13.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.44 BND 19.75
$14.08 ฿460
9.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.1 BND 82.0
$18.00 ฿588
255.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.29 BND 34.92
$41.06 ฿1,341
-33.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.61 BND 7.17
$5.92 ฿193
-5.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 BND 199
$299 ฿9,766
-47.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,317 BND 11.9K
$15.0K ฿488.3K
-37.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.93 BND 39.58
$54.7 ฿1,787
-43.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.30 BND 34.93
$26.77 ฿874
1.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.6 BND 64.7
$85.0 ฿2,776
-40.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.60 BND 60.9
$70.6 ฿2,306
-32.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$428 ฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$237 ฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$801 ฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$515 ฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,975 ฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,475 ฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seria
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 BND 892
$617 ฿20.2K
12.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
5
-18.80%

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

Last update for Seria: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 13% higher in Seria, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Seria versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Seria vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Seria 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
Seria vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Seria or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 59% more than Seria, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 Seria vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $819 per month in Seria and $1,300 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 Seria vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Seria 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 Seria 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 $1,000/month in Seria or Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $546 in Seria and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Seria or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Seria costs $546 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Seria 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 Seria or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Seria. 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.

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