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 $686 per month in Soroca vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,095 per month in Soroca vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,504 per month in Soroca vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Soroca is about 20% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 49% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.01 MDL 156
$1.96 ฿63.6
359.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.73 MDL 636
$18.81 ฿611
95.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.74 MDL 134
$7.92 ฿258
-2.27%
Cappuccino
$1.81 MDL 31.40
$1.91 ฿62.2
-5.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 MDL 16.92
$0.84 ฿27.25
16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MDL 11.89
$0.35 ฿11.44
97.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 MDL 31.11
$2.21 ฿71.7
-18.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 MDL 40.98
$3.80 ฿124
-37.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 MDL 21.45
$1.64 ฿53.2
-24.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 MDL 8.97
$1.62 ฿52.8
-67.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MDL 25.14
$1.18 ฿38.40
22.88%
Eggs
$2.52 MDL 43.70
$2.01 ฿65.4
25.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.16 MDL 176
$15.89 ฿517
-36.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.46 MDL 94.5
$3.01 ฿98.0
81.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 MDL 158
$10.77 ฿350
-15.41%
Apples (1kg)
$0.83 MDL 14.31
$2.61 ฿85.0
-68.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 MDL 31.19
$1.22 ฿39.65
47.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 MDL 29.74
$1.70 ฿55.4
1.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MDL 37.13
$1.58 ฿51.2
35.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MDL 13.16
$1.32 ฿42.89
-42.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 MDL 10.23
$1.17 ฿38.01
-49.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 MDL 22.68
$0.67 ฿21.85
95.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 MDL 15.47
$0.56 ฿18.21
58.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27 MDL 56.7
$4.53 ฿147
-27.81%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.20 ฿592
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MDL 20.85
$1.83 ฿59.6
-34.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 MDL 34.49
$3.23 ฿105
-38.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 MDL 5.26
$0.89 ฿28.83
-66.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.38 ฿630
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 MDL 34.78
$1.35 ฿43.95
48.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 MDL 4.31
$1.35 ฿43.79
-81.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.21 MDL 90.1
$8.25 ฿268
-36.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 MDL 24.64
$1.27 ฿41.40
11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K MDL 549.2K
$21.2K ฿687.8K
49.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K MDL 539.9K
$22.5K ฿731.0K
38.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 MDL 2,970
$70.2 ฿2,281
144.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.49 MDL 130
$13.77 ฿448
-45.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.85 MDL 188
$17.60 ฿572
-38.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$41.57 ฿1,352
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.60 ฿215
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.79 MDL 135
$5.78 ฿188
34.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$393 MDL 6,809
$306 ฿9,953
28.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,574 MDL 131.1K
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-48.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5 MDL 1,134
$54.4 ฿1,768
20.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 MDL 944
$26.14 ฿850
108.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MDL 1,929
$84.5 ฿2,748
31.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 MDL 2,141
$69.4 ฿2,257
78.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$530 MDL 9,176
$635 ฿20.6K
-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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 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 $37.00 in Soroca versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $181 in Soroca vs $243 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 24% 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 $1,029 per month in Soroca and $1,278 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 $37.00 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 35% 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 $686 in Soroca and $852 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 $686 versus $852 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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