😐A single person spends $1,656 per month in Stony Hill vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,834 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,012 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Stony Hill costs about 75% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Stony Hill sits 21% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.66JMD 2,468
$2.08฿69.2
652.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3JMD 11.9K
$19.64฿651
283.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70JMD 1,370
$5.65฿188
53.98%
Cappuccino
$5.32JMD 838
$1.81฿59.9
193.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24JMD 195
$0.71฿23.66
74.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60JMD 94.5
$0.32฿10.48
87.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85JMD 292
$2.24฿74.2
-17.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15JMD 496
$3.63฿121
-13.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.09JMD 486
$1.96฿65.0
57.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63JMD 256
$1.50฿49.83
8.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56JMD 246
$1.34฿44.32
16.42%
Eggs
$3.43JMD 541
$2.26฿75.1
51.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.37JMD 1,791
$16.26฿539
-30.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.01JMD 789
$2.95฿98.0
69.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.80JMD 441
$9.94฿330
-71.83%
Apples(1kg)
$6.13JMD 966
$2.57฿85.3
138.52%
Banana(1kg)
$3.86JMD 608
$1.06฿35.04
264.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.12JMD 650
$1.61฿53.5
155.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59JMD 408
$1.52฿50.4
70.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86JMD 451
$1.27฿42.14
125.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88JMD 297
$1.07฿35.37
75.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59JMD 251
$0.72฿23.89
120.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46JMD 230
$0.51฿16.87
186.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53JMD 1,502
$4.19฿139
127.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.56JMD 1,822
$17.87฿593
-35.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.93JMD 461
$1.69฿56.2
73.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01JMD 632
$2.84฿94.1
41.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.93฿30.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23JMD 194
$1.23฿40.95
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.21JMD 506
$0.58฿19.13
453.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26JMD 986
$2.42฿80.4
158.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67JMD 106
$1.41฿46.84
-52.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KJMD 5.1M
$21.4K฿711.3K
49.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KJMD 4.0M
$27.3K฿906.7K
-7.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.99JMD 7,405
$63.7฿2,112
-26.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.69JMD 3,419
$12.85฿426
68.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.51JMD 6,384
$20.22฿671
100.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.1JMD 11.8K
$38.74฿1,285
93.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.89JMD 2,977
$3.97฿132
375.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61JMD 1,987
$6.74฿223
87.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357JMD 56.3K
$778฿25.8K
-54.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,388JMD 1.3M
$14.6K฿484.6K
-42.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.00JMD 3,782
$54.3฿1,801
-55.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.99JMD 4,883
$25.45฿844
21.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1JMD 12.0K
$94.3฿3,129
-19.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101JMD 16.0K
$73.4฿2,436
37.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948JMD 149.4K
$490฿16.2K
93.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$748JMD 117.8K
$289฿9,596
158.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,215JMD 349.1K
$894฿29.6K
147.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,887JMD 297.4K
$517฿17.1K
264.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,955฿64.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,477฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
5.57
61.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stony Hill: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Stony Hill versus $490 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 $75.0 in Stony Hill versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $240 – 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 75% 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 and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,484 per month in Stony Hill and $1,421 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 and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Stony Hill and $20.00 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 in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Stony Hill at $1,656. 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 $947 versus $1,656 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 to 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