😐A single person spends $1,084 per month in Stony Hill vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,448 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Stony Hill vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Stony Hill costs about 26% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stony Hill and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Stony Hill19% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67JMD 1,209
$1.96฿65.7
291.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3JMD 9,821
$18.35฿616
239.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.52JMD 1,342
$7.48฿251
13.90%
Cappuccino
$4.33JMD 682
$2.02฿67.7
114.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30JMD 206
$0.85฿28.45
52.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60JMD 94.7
$0.36฿11.94
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90JMD 300
$2.14฿71.7
-11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12JMD 492
$3.59฿121
-13.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.10JMD 489
$1.65฿55.4
87.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62JMD 255
$1.57฿52.6
3.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58JMD 248
$1.19฿39.95
32.77%
Eggs
$3.41JMD 537
$1.94฿65.0
75.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.10JMD 1,749
$16.19฿544
-31.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10JMD 804
$2.99฿100
70.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.86JMD 451
$10.94฿367
-73.86%
Apples(1kg)
$5.92JMD 933
$2.71฿91.0
118.45%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00JMD 472
$1.17฿39.18
156.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.99JMD 629
$1.69฿56.6
136.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55JMD 401
$1.60฿53.9
59.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12JMD 334
$1.38฿46.45
53.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91JMD 301
$1.20฿40.38
59.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61JMD 254
$0.67฿22.46
140.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43JMD 226
$0.56฿18.70
155.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.89JMD 1,401
$4.64฿156
91.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.15JMD 1,758
$17.62฿591
-36.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78JMD 438
$1.86฿62.4
49.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11JMD 491
$3.30฿111
-5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.63
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.12JMD 177
$1.36฿45.82
-17.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.13JMD 493
$1.34฿44.90
133.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.41JMD 1,010
$8.21฿276
-21.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71JMD 112
$1.22฿41.11
-41.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KJMD 5.0M
$21.4K฿716.8K
49.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KJMD 4.0M
$22.5K฿756.3K
11.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.71JMD 7,362
$70.7฿2,372
-33.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.49JMD 3,386
$14.04฿471
53.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.34JMD 6,514
$17.49฿587
136.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8JMD 11.6K
$42.15฿1,415
75.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.91JMD 2,980
$6.88฿231
174.85%
Cinema Ticket
$12.68JMD 1,999
$5.92฿199
114.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222JMD 35.0K
$309฿10.4K
-28.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,455JMD 386.9K
$14.9K฿499.5K
-83.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.95JMD 4,090
$55.8฿1,872
-53.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.45JMD 4,011
$26.11฿877
-2.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0JMD 11.2K
$83.0฿2,787
-14.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1JMD 12.0K
$70.5฿2,365
7.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938JMD 147.9K
$432฿14.5K
117.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335JMD 52.8K
$239฿8,020
40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,226JMD 350.8K
$822฿27.6K
170.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,894JMD 298.4K
$512฿17.2K
269.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stony Hill
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Stony Hill versus $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 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
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 26% 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 $1,625 per month in Stony Hill and $1,292 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 $62.0 in Stony Hill and $18.00 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 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 in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Stony Hill at $1,084. 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 $861 versus $1,084 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