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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,784 per month in Southampton vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,320 per month in Southampton vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $12.9K per month in Southampton vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Southampton costs about 298% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Southampton sits 174% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$54.6 BMD 54.6

$2.10 ฿69.0

2499.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BMD 151

$19.84 ฿653

661.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.12 BMD 17.12

$5.79 ฿190

195.68%

Cappuccino

$6.22 BMD 6.22

$1.83 ฿60.1

239.89%

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

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$0.78 ฿25.49

288.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 BMD 3.03

$0.31 ฿10.32

877.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 BMD 7.54

$2.34 ฿76.8

222.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 BMD 8.98

$3.70 ฿122

142.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.60 BMD 4.60

$2.03 ฿66.8

126.60%

White Bread (500g)

$8.26 BMD 8.26

$1.60 ฿52.5

416.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 BMD 5.60

$1.42 ฿46.53

294.37%

Eggs

$7.41 BMD 7.41

$2.18 ฿71.6

239.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.57 BMD 18.57

$15.91 ฿523

16.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.17 BMD 23.17

$3.07 ฿101

654.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.70 BMD 27.70

$9.87 ฿324

180.65%

Apples (1kg)

$12.72 BMD 12.72

$2.63 ฿86.4

383.65%

Banana (1kg)

$6.45 BMD 6.45

$1.10 ฿36.02

486.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.15 BMD 7.15

$1.63 ฿53.6

338.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 BMD 3.90

$1.53 ฿50.3

154.90%

Potato (1kg)

$7.19 BMD 7.19

$1.24 ฿40.93

479.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 BMD 3.08

$1.13 ฿37.19

172.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.83 BMD 6.83

$0.74 ฿24.26

822.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.53 BMD 3.53

$0.50 ฿16.40

606.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.56 BMD 17.56

$4.28 ฿141

310.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.29 BMD 25.29

$17.97 ฿591

40.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.08 BMD 5.08

$1.70 ฿55.8

198.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 BMD 4.52

$2.90 ฿95.2

55.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 ฿1,818

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 BMD 6.59

$1.23 ฿40.56

435.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 BMD 2.93

$0.53 ฿17.57

452.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$71.1 BMD 71.1

$2.40 ฿78.9

2861.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.13 BMD 2.13

$1.44 ฿47.32

47.92%

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

$36.8K BMD 36.8K

$21.2K ฿696.8K

73.79%

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

$42.7K BMD 42.7K

$27.3K ฿897.8K

56.22%

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

$254 BMD 254

$64.9 ฿2,135

290.62%

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

$148 BMD 148

$13.35 ฿439

1005.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 BMD 159

$20.83 ฿685

665.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ฿1,329

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.95 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$13.57 BMD 13.57

$6.71 ฿221

102.24%

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

$1,339 BMD 1,339

$787 ฿25.9K

70.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K BMD 25.1K

$15.1K ฿497.2K

65.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BMD 91.6

$56.2 ฿1,849

62.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.9 BMD 69.9

$24.95 ฿820

180.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 BMD 145

$92.7 ฿3,048

56.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 BMD 127

$75.1 ฿2,470

68.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 ฿15.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 BMD 1,516

$287 ฿9,446

427.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 ฿29.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,132 BMD 8,132

$531 ฿17.4K

1432.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ฿65.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿47.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,739 BMD 9,739

$605 ฿19.9K

1509.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

5.57

54.94%

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

Last update for Southampton: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1509% higher in Southampton, 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 $151 in Southampton versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $768 vs $242 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Southampton costs about 298% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Southampton and $1,426 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $151 in Southampton and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 217% more in Southampton, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Southampton at $3,784. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $3,784 in Southampton. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Southampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.