Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Si Sa Ket and Chiang Mai

For one person, living costs are similar in Si Sa Ket and in Chiang Mai: $908 and $925 a month, rent and utilities included.

Si Sa Ket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$908
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Si Sa Ket and in Chiang Mai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Si Sa Ket and in Chiang Mai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $908 per month in Si Sa Ket vs $925 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Si Sa Ket $908
  • Chiang Mai $925

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Si Sa Ket vs $1,414 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Si Sa Ket $1,422
  • Chiang Mai $1,414

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in Si Sa Ket vs $1,903 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

  • Si Sa Ket $1,935
  • Chiang Mai $1,903

Si Sa Ket is about 2% cheaper than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Si Sa Ket and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Si Sa Ket 33% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 ฿94.5
$2.29 ฿76.5
23.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.87 ฿865
$19.64 ฿656
31.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.22 ฿241
$5.61 ฿188
28.70%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿63.7
$1.66 ฿55.6
15.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ฿21.49
$0.70 ฿23.40
-8.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.11
$0.31 ฿10.24
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 ฿60.0
$2.41 ฿80.4
-25.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ฿91.1
$3.71 ฿124
-26.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 ฿54.1
$1.95 ฿65.3
-16.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.67
$1.41 ฿47.03
1.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.37
$1.31 ฿43.62
1.53%
Eggs
$1.99 ฿66.5
$2.18 ฿72.9
-8.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.58 ฿554
$16.65 ฿556
-0.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.82 ฿94.3
$2.76 ฿92.2
2.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 ฿338
$9.11 ฿304
11.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 ฿98.8
$2.39 ฿80.0
23.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.45
$1.03 ฿34.26
2.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 ฿73.6
$1.63 ฿54.4
34.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 ฿63.4
$1.50 ฿50.0
26.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.29 ฿43.13
17.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ฿31.02
$1.11 ฿37.03
-16.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ฿32.29
$0.72 ฿24.08
34.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ฿19.40
$0.53 ฿17.59
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 ฿129
$4.31 ฿144
-10.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.84 ฿629
$17.95 ฿600
4.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ฿54.8
$1.58 ฿52.9
3.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ฿95.5
$2.84 ฿95.0
0.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ฿32.33
$0.86 ฿28.86
12.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 ฿41.50
$1.21 ฿40.29
2.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ฿37.72
$0.57 ฿18.99
98.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.94 ฿198
$2.35 ฿78.6
152.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ฿46.02
$1.44 ฿47.96
-4.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿926.0K
$20.7K ฿692.8K
33.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ฿830.5K
$26.8K ฿895.7K
-7.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.3 ฿2,417
$62.3 ฿2,083
16.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.38 ฿414
$12.11 ฿405
2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.86 ฿664
$19.94 ฿666
-0.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.24 ฿1,445
$37.07 ฿1,239
16.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.79 ฿461
$3.78 ฿126
264.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿192
$6.50 ฿217
-11.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$527 ฿17.6K
$793 ฿26.5K
-33.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K ฿402.2K
$14.8K ฿494.9K
-18.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.99 ฿1,470
$53.7 ฿1,796
-18.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.31 ฿846
$24.62 ฿823
2.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 ฿2,349
$90.9 ฿3,036
-22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3 ฿2,381
$71.1 ฿2,378
0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$456 ฿15.2K
$455 ฿15.2K
0.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 ฿10.4K
$298 ฿9,954
4.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,310 ฿43.8K
$908 ฿30.4K
44.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 ฿20.6K
$554 ฿18.5K
11.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,862 ฿62.2K
$1,931 ฿64.5K
-3.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,458 ฿48.7K
$1,445 ฿48.3K
0.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Si Sa Ket
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$591 ฿19.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

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

Last update for Si Sa Ket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Si Sa Ket
$311
Chiang Mai
$298 4.3% $13
Groceries & Markets
Si Sa Ket
$246
Chiang Mai
$235 4.3% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Si Sa Ket
$105
Chiang Mai
$94 9.7% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Si Sa Ket
$95
Chiang Mai
$108 14% $13
Eating Out
Si Sa Ket
$85
Chiang Mai
$79 8% $6.8
Sport & Entertainment
Si Sa Ket
$55
Chiang Mai
$50 8.5% $4.7
Getting Around
Si Sa Ket
$11 *
Chiang Mai
$61 465% $50

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $456 in Si Sa Ket versus $455 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Si Sa Ket versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $235 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Si Sa Ket
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🕒 Local time
11:14 11:14 AM
11:14 11:14 AM
Same time as Si Sa Ket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,193
127,240
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Si Sa Ket Chiang Mai 700 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Si Sa Ket
  • Chiang Mai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sa Ket vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Si Sa Ket or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Si Sa Ket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Sa Ket and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,362 per month in Si Sa Ket and $1,388 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Si Sa Ket or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Si Sa Ket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Si Sa Ket and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Si Sa Ket and $20.00 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 Si Sa Ket or in Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Si Sa Ket or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Si Sa Ket, where all-in costs run around $908, than in Chiang Mai at $925. In Si Sa Ket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Si Sa Ket or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Si Sa Ket costs $908 versus $925 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Si Sa Ket 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 Sa Ket or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Si Sa Ket. 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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