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 $3,667 per month in Southampton vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $8,441 per month in Southampton vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.2K per month in Southampton vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Southampton costs about 326% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Southampton sits 175% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$1.96 ฿65.9

2955.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$183 BMD 183

$18.35 ฿617

899.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.08 BMD 15.08

$7.48 ฿252

101.60%

Cappuccino

$6.50 BMD 6.50

$2.02 ฿67.8

221.78%

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

$3.46 BMD 3.46

$0.85 ฿28.52

307.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 BMD 2.86

$0.36 ฿11.97

694.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.83 BMD 9.83

$2.14 ฿71.9

359.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.37 BMD 8.37

$3.59 ฿121

133.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.53 BMD 4.53

$1.65 ฿55.5

174.55%

White Bread (500g)

$8.99 BMD 8.99

$1.57 ฿52.7

472.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.33 BMD 5.33

$1.19 ฿40.05

347.90%

Eggs

$7.68 BMD 7.68

$1.94 ฿65.1

295.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.49 BMD 11.49

$16.19 ฿545

-29.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.31 BMD 24.31

$2.99 ฿101

713.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.34 BMD 32.34

$10.94 ฿368

195.61%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 BMD 10.52

$2.71 ฿91.2

288.19%

Banana (1kg)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$1.17 ฿39.27

433.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.56 BMD 12.56

$1.69 ฿56.8

643.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.44 BMD 11.44

$1.60 ฿54.0

615.00%

Potato (1kg)

$8.58 BMD 8.58

$1.38 ฿46.56

521.74%

Onion (1kg)

$4.93 BMD 4.93

$1.20 ฿40.47

310.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.17 BMD 6.17

$0.67 ฿22.51

820.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 BMD 3.15

$0.56 ฿18.74

462.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.54 BMD 17.54

$4.64 ฿156

278.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.04 BMD 25.04

$17.62 ฿593

42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.86 ฿62.6

191.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 BMD 4.37

$3.30 ฿111

32.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 BMD 6.24

$1.36 ฿45.92

358.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.3 BMD 53.3

$8.21 ฿276

549.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.05 BMD 2.05

$1.22 ฿41.20

68.03%

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

$35.5K BMD 35.5K

$21.4K ฿718.5K

66.42%

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

$38.4K BMD 38.4K

$22.5K ฿758.1K

70.42%

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

$237 BMD 237

$70.7 ฿2,378

235.38%

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

$119 BMD 119

$14.04 ฿472

747.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$158 BMD 158

$17.49 ฿589

804.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$13.34 BMD 13.34

$5.92 ฿199

125.34%

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

$1,335 BMD 1,335

$309 ฿10.4K

332.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K BMD 25.0K

$14.9K ฿500.7K

67.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 BMD 78.5

$55.8 ฿1,876

40.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 BMD 59.9

$26.11 ฿879

129.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 BMD 138

$83.0 ฿2,793

65.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BMD 129

$70.5 ฿2,371

82.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,475 BMD 1,475

$239 ฿8,040

517.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$8,022 BMD 8,022

$512 ฿17.2K

1466.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,656 BMD 9,656

$579 ฿19.5K

1566.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

44.40%

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

Last update for Southampton: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1567% 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 $183 in Southampton versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $822 vs $243 – 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 326% 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 $5,501 per month in Southampton and $1,292 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 $183 in Southampton and $18.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 238% 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 $861, than in Southampton at $3,667. 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 $861 versus $3,667 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.