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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $166 per month in Siaya vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $267 per month in Siaya vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $368 per month in Siaya vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Siaya is about 80% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Siaya and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Siaya 88% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿63.6

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿611

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿258

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ฿27.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 KES 103

$1.64 ฿53.2

-51.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 KES 57.5

$1.62 ฿52.8

-72.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 KES 163

$1.18 ฿38.40

6.78%

Eggs

$1.66 KES 214

$2.01 ฿65.4

-17.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 KES 1,204

$15.89 ฿517

-41.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 KES 685

$3.01 ฿98.0

76.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.06 KES 525

$10.77 ฿350

-62.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 KES 243

$2.61 ฿85.0

-27.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

$1.22 ฿39.65

-16.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 KES 199

$1.70 ฿55.4

-9.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 KES 119

$1.58 ฿51.2

-41.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 KES 102

$1.32 ฿42.89

-40.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 KES 108

$1.17 ฿38.01

-29.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 KES 70.8

$0.56 ฿18.21

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$19.39 KES 2,506

$18.20 ฿592

6.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿105

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿28.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿630

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿43.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿268

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.40

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K ฿687.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿731.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.2 ฿2,281

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿448

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿572

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,352

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿215

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿188

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 ฿9,953

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿482.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,768

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿850

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,748

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,257

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Siaya: April 27, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

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

Siaya vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 413% more than Siaya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $249 per month in Siaya and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $166 in Siaya and $852 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $166 in Siaya and $852 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Siaya costs $166 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Siaya. 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.