🙂A single person spends $518 per month in Suran vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $802 per month in Suran vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,085 per month in Suran vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Suran is about 40% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Suran and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Suran61% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.18SYP 750
$1.96฿65.9
215.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.23SYP 3,309
$18.35฿617
48.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.65SYP 687
$7.48฿252
-24.47%
Cappuccino
$1.54SYP 187
$2.02฿67.8
-23.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13SYP 137
$0.85฿28.52
32.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72SYP 88.0
$0.36฿11.97
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58SYP 192
$2.14฿71.9
-26.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SYP 301
$3.59฿121
-30.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02SYP 124
$1.65฿55.5
-38.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59SYP 71.4
$1.57฿52.7
-62.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67SYP 203
$1.19฿40.05
40.34%
Eggs
$1.86SYP 226
$1.94฿65.1
-4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.17SYP 385
$16.19฿545
-80.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73SYP 939
$2.99฿101
158.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.39SYP 1,384
$10.94฿368
4.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92SYP 112
$2.71฿91.2
-66.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75SYP 212
$1.17฿39.27
49.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03SYP 125
$1.69฿56.8
-39.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88SYP 106
$1.60฿54.0
-45.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61SYP 74.2
$1.38฿46.56
-55.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63SYP 76.3
$1.20฿40.47
-47.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37SYP 45.04
$0.67฿22.51
-44.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62SYP 74.8
$0.56฿18.74
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92SYP 355
$4.64฿156
-37.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.03SYP 976
$17.62฿593
-54.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02SYP 124
$1.86฿62.6
-45.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78SYP 216
$3.30฿111
-46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.88฿29.70
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿651
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02SYP 124
$1.36฿45.92
-25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SYP 148
$1.34฿45.00
-8.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.35SYP 772
$8.21฿276
-22.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.73SYP 454
$1.22฿41.20
205.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5KSYP 2.2M
$21.4K฿718.5K
-13.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSYP 2.6M
$22.5K฿758.1K
-5.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SYP 12.2K
$70.7฿2,378
41.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23SYP 1,001
$14.04฿472
-41.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3SYP 6,603
$17.49฿589
210.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$42.15฿1,418
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.97SYP 361
$5.92฿199
-49.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$43.20SYP 5,250
$309฿10.4K
-86.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,832SYP 222.6K
$14.9K฿500.7K
-87.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.84SYP 3,626
$55.8฿1,876
-46.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.66SYP 3,118
$26.11฿879
-1.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.44SYP 5,522
$83.0฿2,793
-45.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6SYP 6,759
$70.5฿2,371
-21.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,040
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.75
5
175.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suran: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Suran versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Suran vs $243 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
Which city is more expensive, Suran or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 66% more than Suran, 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 Suran and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $778 per month in Suran and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Suran and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Suran 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 Suran or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 41% 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 Suran or in Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $518 in Suran and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Suran or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Suran costs $518 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Suran 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 Suran or to Chiang Mai?
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.