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 $806 per month in Surat Thani vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Surat Thani vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,063 per month in Surat Thani vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Surat Thani is about 15% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Surat Thani and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Surat Thani 41% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.9

$2.08 ฿68.6

-6.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.12 ฿596

$19.64 ฿646

-7.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ฿147

$5.65 ฿186

-20.71%

Cappuccino

$1.52 ฿49.93

$1.81 ฿59.4

-16.02%

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

$0.48 ฿15.69

$0.71 ฿23.45

-32.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ฿9.85

$0.32 ฿10.38

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ฿82.6

$2.24 ฿73.6

12.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 ฿123

$3.63 ฿119

3.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ฿60.6

$1.96 ฿64.4

-6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ฿39.99

$1.50 ฿49.39

-18.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.67

$1.34 ฿43.93

-9.70%

Eggs

$1.95 ฿64.0

$2.26 ฿74.5

-13.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿644

$16.26 ฿535

20.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 ฿116

$2.95 ฿97.1

19.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 ฿254

$9.94 ฿327

-22.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿96.4

$2.57 ฿84.6

14.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ฿54.2

$1.06 ฿34.73

55.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$1.61 ฿53.0

11.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 ฿72.3

$1.52 ฿49.97

44.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.19

$1.27 ฿41.77

5.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.45

$1.07 ฿35.06

31.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ฿37.75

$0.72 ฿23.68

59.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 ฿13.49

$0.51 ฿16.72

-19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 ฿99.8

$4.19 ฿138

-27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 ฿628

$17.87 ฿587

6.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 ฿51.5

$1.69 ฿55.7

-7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿58.9

$2.84 ฿93.3

-36.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ฿35.58

$0.93 ฿30.43

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.27 ฿699

$53.9 ฿1,771

-60.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ฿39.24

$1.23 ฿40.59

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ฿20.82

$0.58 ฿18.96

8.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 ฿119

$2.42 ฿79.7

49.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿41.17

$1.41 ฿46.43

-11.35%

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

$27.0K ฿888.9K

$21.4K ฿705.1K

26.07%

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

$27.7K ฿909.4K

$27.3K ฿898.7K

1.18%

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

$76.1 ฿2,502

$63.7 ฿2,093

19.51%

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

$11.50 ฿378

$12.85 ฿423

-10.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.44 ฿573

$20.22 ฿665

-13.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.94 ฿1,609

$38.74 ฿1,274

26.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 ฿479

$3.97 ฿130

267.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 ฿150

$6.74 ฿222

-32.49%

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

$574 ฿18.9K

$778 ฿25.6K

-26.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ฿385.0K

$14.6K ฿480.4K

-19.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 ฿2,138

$54.3 ฿1,785

19.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.70 ฿976

$25.45 ฿837

16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ฿3,208

$94.3 ฿3,102

3.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 ฿2,920

$73.4 ฿2,415

20.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 ฿7,926

$490 ฿16.1K

-50.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 ฿5,002

$289 ฿9,512

-47.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,240 ฿40.8K

$894 ฿29.4K

38.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 ฿23.5K

$517 ฿17.0K

38.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,026 ฿66.6K

$1,955 ฿64.3K

3.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,621 ฿53.3K

$1,477 ฿48.6K

9.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Surat Thani: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Surat Thani versus $490 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Surat Thani vs $240 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 18% more than Surat Thani, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,209 per month in Surat Thani and $1,421 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 $574 per month in Surat Thani and $778 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 5% cheaper in Chiang Mai – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surat Thani, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Surat Thani 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. Surat Thani costs $806 versus $947 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.