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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $673 per month in Soroca vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,069 per month in Soroca vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,466 per month in Soroca vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Soroca is about 22% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 50% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58 MDL 148
$1.98 ฿64.3
333.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.92 MDL 620
$18.80 ฿612
91.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 MDL 134
$7.75 ฿252
0.39%
Cappuccino
$1.79 MDL 30.91
$1.92 ฿62.5
-6.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MDL 15.89
$0.79 ฿25.79
16.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 MDL 11.26
$0.36 ฿11.62
80.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 MDL 29.51
$2.21 ฿72.1
-22.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 MDL 40.79
$3.66 ฿119
-35.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 MDL 21.23
$1.65 ฿53.8
-25.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MDL 8.88
$1.63 ฿53.2
-68.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MDL 24.84
$1.19 ฿38.86
21.01%
Eggs
$2.51 MDL 43.34
$2.00 ฿65.1
25.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 MDL 182
$15.98 ฿520
-34.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.51 MDL 95.2
$3.03 ฿98.5
81.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.75 MDL 151
$10.86 ฿354
-19.43%
Apples (1kg)
$0.90 MDL 15.55
$2.76 ฿90.0
-67.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MDL 30.64
$1.18 ฿38.42
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 MDL 29.75
$1.64 ฿53.5
4.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MDL 35.65
$1.52 ฿49.51
35.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MDL 13.14
$1.38 ฿45.10
-44.93%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 MDL 10.18
$1.19 ฿38.84
-50.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 MDL 23.55
$0.70 ฿22.86
94.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 MDL 14.51
$0.56 ฿18.13
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 MDL 54.0
$4.58 ฿149
-31.66%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$16.56 ฿539
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MDL 22.05
$1.83 ฿59.5
-30.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 MDL 33.95
$3.20 ฿104
-38.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 MDL 4.80
$0.88 ฿28.56
-68.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.72 ฿610
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 MDL 35.22
$1.36 ฿44.16
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 MDL 4.27
$1.34 ฿43.65
-81.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MDL 93.4
$7.84 ฿256
-30.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 MDL 23.74
$1.23 ฿39.92
11.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K MDL 552.6K
$21.6K ฿704.3K
47.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K MDL 534.5K
$22.5K ฿734.3K
37.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 MDL 2,960
$70.5 ฿2,298
142.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.37 MDL 127
$13.68 ฿445
-46.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.94 MDL 189
$17.45 ฿568
-37.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.33 ฿1,346
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96 ฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.79 MDL 135
$5.77 ฿188
35.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$385 MDL 6,653
$307 ฿10.0K
25.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,592 MDL 131.1K
$14.6K ฿475.9K
-48.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.0 MDL 1,122
$55.8 ฿1,817
16.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0 MDL 915
$26.21 ฿854
102.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 MDL 1,947
$85.8 ฿2,793
31.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MDL 2,126
$72.2 ฿2,353
70.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$430 ฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$239 ฿7,774
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$817 ฿26.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$511 ฿16.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,983 ฿64.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,484 ฿48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$516 MDL 8,919
$619 ฿20.2K
-16.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
5
84.80%

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

Last update for Soroca: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 20% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $36.00 in Soroca versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Soroca vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Soroca 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
Soroca vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Soroca or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 29% more than Soroca, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Soroca vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,010 per month in Soroca and $1,303 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 Soroca vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Soroca 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 Soroca or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,200/month in Soroca or Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $673 in Soroca and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Soroca or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soroca costs $673 versus $869 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Soroca 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 Soroca or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Soroca. 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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