Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat Thani and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat Thani and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $809 per month in Surat Thani vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,312 per month in Surat Thani vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Surat Thani vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Surat Thani is about 7% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surat Thani and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Surat Thani 40% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.94 ฿63.5

-2.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 ฿601

$18.64 ฿609

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 ฿153

$7.82 ฿255

-40.15%

Cappuccino

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.95 ฿63.8

-18.46%

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

$0.50 ฿16.37

$0.85 ฿27.77

-41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿9.78

$0.35 ฿11.58

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ฿82.1

$2.13 ฿69.6

17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ฿62.8

$1.71 ฿56.0

12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ฿39.98

$1.63 ฿53.2

-25.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ฿35.78

$1.14 ฿37.15

-3.51%

Eggs

$1.89 ฿61.6

$1.93 ฿63.1

-2.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.57 ฿639

$16.21 ฿530

20.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 ฿120

$3.12 ฿102

17.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ฿259

$10.90 ฿356

-27.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ฿110

$2.75 ฿90.0

21.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿55.3

$1.21 ฿39.52

39.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 ฿69.1

$1.62 ฿53.0

30.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.59 ฿51.8

11.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.61

$1.40 ฿45.70

-13.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.42

$1.17 ฿38.17

23.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.20

$0.66 ฿21.60

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 ฿13.54

$0.53 ฿17.22

-22.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 ฿102

$4.69 ฿153

-33.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ฿616

$18.66 ฿609

1.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.80 ฿58.8

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ฿87.9

$3.23 ฿106

-16.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 ฿36.05

$0.90 ฿29.26

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.39 ฿699

$19.21 ฿628

11.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 ฿34.71

$1.41 ฿45.91

-24.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ฿19.90

$1.29 ฿42.12

-52.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 ฿120

$7.84 ฿256

-53.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ฿39.37

$1.27 ฿41.58

-4.72%

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

$27.8K ฿907.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

30.65%

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

$33.6K ฿1.1M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

51.21%

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

$77.4 ฿2,528

$69.1 ฿2,256

12.05%

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

$13.88 ฿453

$14.08 ฿460

-1.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.38 ฿600

$18.00 ฿588

2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 ฿1,636

$41.06 ฿1,341

21.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.18 ฿398

$6.96 ฿227

75.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 ฿147

$5.92 ฿193

-24.16%

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

$703 ฿23.0K

$299 ฿9,766

135.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿525.2K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

7.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,935

$54.7 ฿1,787

8.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.21 ฿1,150

$26.77 ฿874

31.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ฿3,732

$85.0 ฿2,776

34.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.6 ฿2,762

$70.6 ฿2,306

19.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,833

$428 ฿14.0K

-43.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 ฿5,098

$237 ฿7,752

-34.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

$801 ฿26.2K

-13.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 ฿13.6K

$515 ฿16.8K

-19.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

6.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 ฿55.5K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

15.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.60%

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

Last update for Surat Thani: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Surat Thani versus $428 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Surat Thani versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Surat Thani vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Chiang Mai 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

Surat Thani vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 7% more than Surat Thani, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,213 per month in Surat Thani and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surat Thani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $703 per month in Surat Thani and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $809 in Surat Thani and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surat Thani costs $809 versus $866 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 Surat Thani. 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.