🙂A single person spends $516 per month in Suran vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $813 per month in Suran vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,110 per month in Suran vs $1,835 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 – Suran62% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.13SYP 678
$1.94฿63.5
215.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.77SYP 3,068
$18.64฿609
48.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34SYP 590
$7.82฿255
-31.71%
Cappuccino
$1.54SYP 170
$1.95฿63.8
-21.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14SYP 126
$0.85฿27.77
34.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71SYP 78.5
$0.35฿11.58
102.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55SYP 172
$2.13฿69.6
-27.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45SYP 270
$3.73฿122
-34.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04SYP 115
$1.71฿56.0
-39.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.63SYP 69.8
$1.63฿53.2
-61.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70SYP 188
$1.14฿37.15
49.12%
Eggs
$1.85SYP 204
$1.93฿63.1
-4.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.16SYP 349
$16.21฿530
-80.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49SYP 828
$3.12฿102
140.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.39SYP 1,259
$10.90฿356
4.50%
Apples(1kg)
$0.88SYP 96.9
$2.75฿90.0
-68.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80SYP 199
$1.21฿39.52
48.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02SYP 113
$1.62฿53.0
-37.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90SYP 99.0
$1.59฿51.8
-43.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.62SYP 68.4
$1.40฿45.70
-55.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62SYP 68.5
$1.17฿38.17
-47.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38SYP 41.55
$0.66฿21.60
-42.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61SYP 67.5
$0.53฿17.22
15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93SYP 324
$4.69฿153
-37.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.90SYP 651
$18.66฿609
-68.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98SYP 108
$1.80฿58.8
-45.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SYP 203
$3.23฿106
-43.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.90฿29.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02SYP 112
$1.41฿45.91
-27.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24SYP 137
$1.29฿42.12
-3.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.49SYP 717
$7.84฿256
-17.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.61SYP 399
$1.27฿41.58
184.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KSYP 2.1M
$21.3K฿694.9K
-12.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KSYP 2.3M
$22.2K฿725.4K
-7.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103SYP 11.4K
$69.1฿2,256
48.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.65SYP 956
$14.08฿460
-38.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6SYP 6,148
$18.00฿588
209.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,341
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.92SYP 323
$5.92฿193
-50.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$42.94SYP 4,745
$299฿9,766
-85.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,839SYP 203.2K
$15.0K฿488.3K
-87.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.23SYP 3,230
$54.7฿1,787
-46.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.46SYP 2,814
$26.77฿874
-4.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.98SYP 4,971
$85.0฿2,776
-47.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4SYP 6,229
$70.6฿2,306
-20.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suran
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Suran versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Suran vs $246 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 68% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $774 per month in Suran and $1,300 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 vs Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Suran and $19.00 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 47% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $516 in Suran and $866 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 $516 versus $866 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 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.