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

Name: Chiang Mai
Address: Chiang Mai, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $653 per month in Suran vs $932 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,033 per month in Suran vs $1,399 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,413 per month in Suran vs $1,866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Suran is about 30% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Suran and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Suran 52% lower, Chiang Mai 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.07 SYP 1,224

$2.08 ฿69.3

384.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.17 SYP 5,367

$19.61 ฿653

125.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 SYP 849

$5.67 ฿189

23.28%

Cappuccino

$3.77 SYP 459

$1.81 ฿60.1

108.29%

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

$2.22 SYP 269

$0.77 ฿25.58

188.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 SYP 97.9

$0.35 ฿11.49

131.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SYP 228

$2.21 ฿73.7

-14.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 SYP 360

$3.79 ฿126

-21.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 SYP 129

$2.05 ฿68.2

-48.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 SYP 50.9

$1.51 ฿50.4

-72.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 SYP 192

$1.40 ฿46.57

12.86%

Eggs

$1.62 SYP 197

$2.26 ฿75.2

-28.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 SYP 467

$16.19 ฿539

-76.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 SYP 673

$2.90 ฿96.4

91.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.93 SYP 1,693

$9.42 ฿314

47.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 SYP 130

$2.68 ฿89.2

-60.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SYP 168

$1.09 ฿36.28

26.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 SYP 139

$1.62 ฿53.8

-29.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 SYP 124

$1.46 ฿48.61

-30.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 SYP 95.3

$1.28 ฿42.54

-39.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 SYP 97.2

$1.06 ฿35.21

-24.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 SYP 52.7

$0.72 ฿23.88

-40.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SYP 74.4

$0.53 ฿17.51

15.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 SYP 334

$4.23 ฿141

-34.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.00 SYP 729

$18.29 ฿609

-67.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 SYP 128

$1.63 ฿54.3

-35.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 SYP 359

$2.90 ฿96.6

2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 SYP 125

$1.17 ฿39.04

-11.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.50 SYP 183

$0.58 ฿19.25

158.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.73 SYP 940

$2.39 ฿79.4

223.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.76 SYP 457

$1.45 ฿48.28

159.31%

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

$14.7K SYP 1.8M

$21.0K ฿699.5K

-29.99%

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

$19.2K SYP 2.3M

$26.4K ฿879.7K

-27.31%

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

$138 SYP 16.8K

$63.7 ฿2,119

116.65%

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

$9.54 SYP 1,159

$12.89 ฿429

-25.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.96 SYP 5,585

$20.52 ฿683

123.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 SYP 670

$6.58 ฿219

-16.26%

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

$66.7 SYP 8,103

$784 ฿26.1K

-91.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,748 SYP 212.3K

$14.7K ฿488.4K

-88.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.05 SYP 3,408

$55.1 ฿1,835

-49.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.74 SYP 4,829

$24.74 ฿824

60.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.4 SYP 7,341

$94.1 ฿3,133

-35.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.2 SYP 6,946

$74.0 ฿2,462

-22.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.25

5.57

155.83%

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

Last update for Suran: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Suran versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Suran vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Suran wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Chiang Mai costs about 43% more than Suran, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $980 per month in Suran and $1,398 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Suran and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Suran, where all-in costs run around $653, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Suran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Suran costs $653 versus $932 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 Suran. 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.