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 $400 per month in Soroca vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Soroca vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Soroca vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Soroca is about 58% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soroca and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soroca 71% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40 MDL 196
$2.10 ฿69.3
442.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.28 MDL 399
$19.84 ฿656
17.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 MDL 81.7
$5.79 ฿191
-17.79%
Cappuccino
$1.49 MDL 25.57
$1.83 ฿60.4
-18.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 MDL 12.31
$0.78 ฿25.61
-7.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 MDL 8.17
$0.31 ฿10.37
54.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 MDL 19.60
$2.34 ฿77.2
-51.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MDL 25.14
$3.70 ฿122
-60.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 MDL 18.18
$2.03 ฿67.1
-47.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.37 MDL 6.29
$1.60 ฿52.7
-76.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 MDL 20.43
$1.42 ฿46.75
-16.20%
Eggs
$2.03 MDL 34.76
$2.18 ฿71.9
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$15.91 ฿526
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.07 ฿102
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.87 ฿326
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.63 ฿86.8
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 MDL 35.13
$1.10 ฿36.19
86.36%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.63 ฿53.8
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.53 ฿50.6
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 MDL 10.98
$1.24 ฿41.13
-48.39%
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.13 ฿37.37
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.74 ฿24.38
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MDL 9.19
$0.50 ฿16.48
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.28 ฿141
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.97 ฿594
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 ฿56.1
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90 ฿95.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.94 ฿31.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.3 ฿1,827
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 MDL 20.28
$1.23 ฿40.76
-4.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.53 ฿17.66
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.40 ฿79.3
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 MDL 28.00
$1.44 ฿47.55
13.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2K ฿700.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K MDL 357.8K
$27.3K ฿902.1K
-23.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.0 MDL 1,063
$64.9 ฿2,145
-4.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 MDL 149
$13.35 ฿441
-34.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.53 MDL 232
$20.83 ฿688
-35.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.71 MDL 493
$40.42 ฿1,336
-28.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95 ฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.40 MDL 58.3
$6.71 ฿222
-49.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$787 ฿26.0K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.1K ฿499.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.45 MDL 591
$56.2 ฿1,858
-38.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 MDL 593
$24.95 ฿824
38.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MDL 1,863
$92.7 ฿3,063
17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.91 MDL 599
$75.1 ฿2,482
-53.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$484 ฿16.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$287 ฿9,491
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$910 ฿30.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$531 ฿17.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,980 ฿65.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,451 ฿47.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soroca
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$514 MDL 8,825
$605 ฿20.0K
-15.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Soroca: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 18% 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 $23.00 in Soroca versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $48.00 in Soroca vs $242 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 138% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $600 per month in Soroca and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Soroca compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $400 in Soroca and $950 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Soroca or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 407% 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 $2,000/month in Soroca or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Soroca, where all-in costs run around $400, than in Chiang Mai at $950. In Soroca 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, Soroca or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Soroca costs $400 versus $950 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 to 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.

Soroca vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities