😐A single person spends $1,078 per month in Stony Hill vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,817 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Stony Hill costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stony Hill and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Stony Hill20% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.44JMD 1,165
$1.94฿63.5
283.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.5JMD 9,641
$18.64฿609
230.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94JMD 1,400
$7.82฿255
14.32%
Cappuccino
$4.28JMD 671
$1.95฿63.8
119.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30JMD 204
$0.85฿27.77
52.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60JMD 93.9
$0.35฿11.58
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93JMD 302
$2.13฿69.6
-9.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14JMD 493
$3.73฿122
-15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.21JMD 502
$1.71฿56.0
87.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59JMD 249
$1.63฿53.2
-2.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62JMD 254
$1.14฿37.15
42.11%
Eggs
$3.36JMD 527
$1.93฿63.1
74.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.07JMD 1,734
$16.21฿530
-31.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.03JMD 789
$3.12฿102
61.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.85JMD 446
$10.90฿356
-73.85%
Apples(1kg)
$6.03JMD 945
$2.75฿90.0
119.27%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08JMD 483
$1.21฿39.52
154.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.16JMD 652
$1.62฿53.0
156.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46JMD 386
$1.59฿51.8
54.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10JMD 328
$1.40฿45.70
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85JMD 290
$1.17฿38.17
58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60JMD 251
$0.66฿21.60
142.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51JMD 237
$0.53฿17.22
184.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.99JMD 1,409
$4.69฿153
91.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.36JMD 1,779
$18.66฿609
-39.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89JMD 453
$1.80฿58.8
60.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22JMD 504
$3.23฿106
-0.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13JMD 178
$1.41฿45.91
-19.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.23JMD 507
$1.29฿42.12
150.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.31JMD 989
$7.84฿256
-19.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71JMD 110
$1.27฿41.58
-44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KJMD 5.0M
$21.3K฿694.9K
49.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KJMD 4.0M
$22.2K฿725.4K
14.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.35JMD 7,419
$69.1฿2,256
-31.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.24JMD 3,485
$14.08฿460
57.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.55JMD 6,354
$18.00฿588
125.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.9JMD 11.6K
$41.06฿1,341
80.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49JMD 2,897
$6.96฿227
165.66%
Cinema Ticket
$12.44JMD 1,949
$5.92฿193
110.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225JMD 35.2K
$299฿9,766
-24.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,519JMD 394.6K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-83.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.67JMD 4,023
$54.7฿1,787
-53.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.75JMD 4,034
$26.77฿874
-3.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4JMD 11.3K
$85.0฿2,776
-14.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6JMD 11.8K
$70.6฿2,306
7.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948JMD 148.5K
$428฿14.0K
121.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328JMD 51.4K
$237฿7,752
38.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,202JMD 345.0K
$801฿26.2K
174.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,869JMD 292.9K
$515฿16.8K
262.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
5
80.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stony Hill: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Stony Hill versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Stony Hill versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $246 – 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
Stony Hill vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
Stony Hill costs about 24% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Stony Hill vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Stony Hill and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Stony Hill vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Stony Hill 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 Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Stony Hill, 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 $1,000/month in Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Stony Hill at $1,078. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stony Hill it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,078 in Stony Hill. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stony Hill 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 Stony Hill or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stony Hill makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Stony Hill vs other spots: cost of living compared