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

😐 Solo nomad: Sterling is 122.6% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 209.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sterling is 115% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 182.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96 $19.96
$2.03 ฿64.6
883.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.4 $84.4
$18.59 ฿593
353.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.02 $13.02
$7.48 ฿238
74.06%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$2.00 ฿63.7
173.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$0.85 ฿27.01
222.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$0.35 ฿11.21
551.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$2.21 ฿70.5
174.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59 $7.59
$3.76 ฿120
101.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.72 ฿54.8
-48.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.63 ฿52.1
112.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.16 ฿36.93
90.52%
Eggs
$5.03 $5.03
$1.98 ฿63.1
154.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.30 $19.30
$15.93 ฿508
21.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.92 $11.92
$3.17 ฿101
276.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.18 $18.18
$10.90 ฿348
66.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$2.65 ฿84.3
78.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.22 ฿38.98
4.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.08 $7.08
$1.70 ฿54.1
316.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$1.59 ฿50.7
318.24%
Potato (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.32 ฿42.21
162.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.17 ฿37.25
130.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.68 ฿21.61
223.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.56 ฿17.76
346.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.15 $9.15
$4.51 ฿144
102.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 $13.76
$19.07 ฿608
-27.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.77 ฿56.4
-3.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.18 ฿101
53.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.96 ฿30.70
110.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿602
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 $4.58
$1.36 ฿43.29
236.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.35 ฿43.11
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.75 $28.75
$8.03 ฿256
258.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.24 ฿39.62
-29.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
26.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
13.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 $212
$71.2 ฿2,271
197.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$14.09 ฿449
270.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4 $74.4
$17.47 ฿557
325.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.45 $28.45
$42.07 ฿1,341
-32.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿219
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.89 $14.89
$5.94 ฿189
150.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,774 $1,774
$307 ฿9,799
477.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
60.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.60 $47.60
$55.7 ฿1,775
-14.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27 $44.27
$26.79 ฿854
65.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 $96.0
$83.2 ฿2,653
15.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$70.1 ฿2,235
69.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 $1,245
$427 ฿13.6K
191.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$237 ฿7,559
473.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 $2,009
$802 ฿25.6K
150.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 $2,234
$503 ฿16.0K
343.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,258 $3,258
$2,061 ฿65.7K
58.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,390 $2,390
$1,533 ฿48.9K
55.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sterling
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,688 $3,688
$654 ฿20.8K
464.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
5
31.40%

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

Last update for Sterling: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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