Cost of Living Comparison Between Si Racha and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Si Racha and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $938 per month in Si Racha vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,738 per month in Si Racha vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,539 per month in Si Racha vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Si Racha costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Si Racha and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Si Racha 30% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01 ฿98.5
$1.94 ฿63.6
55.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.37 ฿1,025
$18.64 ฿609
68.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.08 ฿199
$7.82 ฿256
-22.25%
Cappuccino
$2.45 ฿80.0
$1.95 ฿63.9
25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.54
$0.85 ฿27.80
-18.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.21
$0.35 ฿11.60
5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.3
$2.13 ฿69.7
12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿94.3
$3.73 ฿122
-22.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ฿57.9
$1.71 ฿56.0
3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.04
$1.63 ฿53.3
-13.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.11
$1.14 ฿37.18
15.79%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿74.1
$1.93 ฿63.2
17.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.69 ฿513
$16.21 ฿530
-3.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 ฿100.0
$3.12 ฿102
-1.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ฿313
$10.90 ฿356
-12.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ฿110
$2.75 ฿90.1
22.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 ฿43.40
$1.21 ฿39.56
9.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ฿63.9
$1.62 ฿53.0
20.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.13
$1.59 ฿51.9
-7.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿48.60
$1.40 ฿45.75
6.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.81
$1.17 ฿38.20
4.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.22
$0.66 ฿21.62
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.35
$0.53 ฿17.24
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47 ฿146
$4.69 ฿153
-4.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 ฿491
$18.66 ฿610
-19.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿56.9
$1.80 ฿58.8
-3.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ฿76.9
$3.23 ฿106
-27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 ฿19.70
$0.90 ฿29.28
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.71 ฿1,200
$19.21 ฿628
91.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 ฿34.40
$1.41 ฿45.96
-25.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿39.17
$1.29 ฿42.16
-6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 ฿109
$7.84 ฿256
-57.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ฿39.39
$1.27 ฿41.62
-5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K ฿841.8K
$21.3K ฿695.5K
21.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K ฿842.2K
$22.2K ฿726.1K
15.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 ฿2,905
$69.1 ฿2,258
28.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.51 ฿409
$14.08 ฿460
-11.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.40 ฿601
$18.00 ฿588
2.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.5 ฿1,683
$41.06 ฿1,342
25.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.79 ฿255
$6.96 ฿227
11.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿248
$5.92 ฿193
27.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$295 ฿9,638
$299 ฿9,775
-1.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,166 ฿299.6K
$15.0K ฿488.8K
-38.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.35 ฿992
$54.7 ฿1,788
-44.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.44 ฿636
$26.77 ฿875
-27.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ฿3,304
$85.0 ฿2,778
18.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.07 ฿1,539
$70.6 ฿2,308
-33.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$419 ฿13.7K
$428 ฿14.0K
-2.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 ฿9,206
$237 ฿7,759
18.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 ฿50.9K
$801 ฿26.2K
94.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 ฿35.2K
$515 ฿16.9K
108.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,002 ฿65.4K
$1,975 ฿64.5K
1.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,497 ฿48.9K
$1,475 ฿48.2K
1.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Si Racha
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,074 ฿35.1K
$617 ฿20.2K
73.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
5
9.00%

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

Last update for Si Racha: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $419 in Si Racha versus $428 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 74% higher in Si Racha, 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 $31.00 in Si Racha versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Si Racha vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Si Racha 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
Si Racha vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
Si Racha costs about 8% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Si Racha vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,407 per month in Si Racha and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Si Racha and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $295 per month in Si Racha and $299 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 Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Si Racha – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Si Racha at $938. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Si Racha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $938 in Si Racha. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Si Racha 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 Si Racha or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Si Racha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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