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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $218 per month in Sumba vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $295 per month in Sumba vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $372 per month in Sumba vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Sumba is about 75% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sumba and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Sumba 84% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿616

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿251

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.7

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿28.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 FOK 15.41

$1.65 ฿55.4

43.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.95

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿100

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿367

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.18

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.45

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.72 FOK 70.0

$4.64 ฿156

131.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.02 FOK 78.5

$17.62 ฿591

-31.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 FOK 15.55

$1.86 ฿62.4

27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 FOK 12.48

$3.30 ฿111

-42.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.60 FOK 30.05

$0.88 ฿29.63

422.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.82

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 FOK 13.27

$1.22 ฿41.11

66.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿716.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿756.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.7 ฿2,372

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.04 ฿471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.4 FOK 401

$17.49 ฿587

250.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.51 FOK 258

$42.15 ฿1,415

-6.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$15.47 FOK 101

$5.92 ฿199

161.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿499.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,872

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿877

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,787

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,365

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,020

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Sumba: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

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

Sumba vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 295% more than Sumba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $327 per month in Sumba and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $218 in Sumba and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 284% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $218 in Sumba and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sumba costs $218 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sumba. 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.