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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Sucre vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,232 per month in Sucre vs $1,354 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,649 per month in Sucre vs $1,857 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sucre is about 4% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sucre and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sucre 39% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 BOB 12.39
$1.96 ฿63.6
-9.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.44 BOB 100
$18.81 ฿611
-23.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.86 BOB 40.68
$7.92 ฿258
-26.01%
Cappuccino
$2.40 BOB 16.67
$1.91 ฿62.2
25.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 BOB 4.27
$0.84 ฿27.25
-27.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 BOB 3.90
$0.35 ฿11.44
60.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 BOB 9.57
$2.21 ฿71.7
-37.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 BOB 14.95
$3.80 ฿124
-43.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 BOB 6.22
$1.64 ฿53.2
-45.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 BOB 9.94
$1.62 ฿52.8
-11.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 BOB 8.34
$1.18 ฿38.40
1.69%
Eggs
$1.68 BOB 11.67
$2.01 ฿65.4
-16.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 BOB 31.08
$15.89 ฿517
-71.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 BOB 21.12
$3.01 ฿98.0
1.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.22 BOB 29.30
$10.77 ฿350
-60.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 BOB 12.60
$2.61 ฿85.0
-30.27%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 BOB 6.18
$1.22 ฿39.65
-27.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.70 BOB 4.89
$1.70 ฿55.4
-58.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 BOB 20.08
$1.58 ฿51.2
82.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 BOB 3.11
$1.32 ฿42.89
-65.91%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 BOB 5.14
$1.17 ฿38.01
-36.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 BOB 2.11
$0.67 ฿21.85
-55.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 BOB 6.88
$0.56 ฿18.21
76.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 BOB 13.32
$4.53 ฿147
-57.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 BOB 71.6
$18.20 ฿592
-43.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 BOB 12.11
$1.83 ฿59.6
-4.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23 ฿105
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 BOB 1.92
$0.89 ฿28.83
-68.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.93 BOB 159
$19.38 ฿630
18.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 BOB 4.88
$1.35 ฿43.95
-48.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.35 ฿43.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.25 ฿268
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 BOB 7.03
$1.27 ฿41.40
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.7K BOB 101.7K
$21.2K ฿687.8K
-30.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K BOB 122.5K
$22.5K ฿731.0K
-21.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.40 BOB 99.9
$70.2 ฿2,281
-79.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 BOB 145
$13.77 ฿448
51.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.67 BOB 178
$17.60 ฿572
45.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.81 BOB 158
$41.57 ฿1,352
-45.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45 BOB 79.5
$6.60 ฿215
73.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37 BOB 44.22
$5.78 ฿188
10.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$306 ฿9,953
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$14.8K ฿482.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.08 BOB 250
$54.4 ฿1,768
-33.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.14 ฿850
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 BOB 491
$84.5 ฿2,748
-16.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.4 BOB 454
$69.4 ฿2,257
-5.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$638 BOB 4,426
$424 ฿13.8K
50.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 BOB 2,633
$238 ฿7,743
59.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,066 BOB 7,397
$825 ฿26.8K
29.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$679 BOB 4,709
$515 ฿16.7K
31.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$876 BOB 6,079
$2,049 ฿66.6K
-57.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$588 BOB 4,078
$1,523 ฿49.5K
-61.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sucre
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$365 BOB 2,535
$635 ฿20.6K
-42.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5
-

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

Last update for Sucre: April 25, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $638 in Sucre versus $424 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.

Salaries run about 74% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $14.00 in Sucre versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $243 – making Sucre 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
Sucre vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sucre or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Sucre, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Sucre vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in Sucre and $1,278 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sucre or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sucre, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Sucre vs Chiang Mai?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Sucre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Sucre or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Chiang Mai, 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 Sucre or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Chiang Mai at $852. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sucre or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sucre costs $816 versus $852 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sucre 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 Sucre or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Sucre. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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