Cost of Living Comparison Between Surfers Paradise and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Surfers Paradise and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Surfers Paradise is 85.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 120.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Surfers Paradise is 101% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 150.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.38 A$23.09
$2.03 ฿63.8
706.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.3 A$133
$18.59 ฿585
407.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.64 A$13.59
$7.48 ฿235
28.88%
Cappuccino
$3.53 A$4.98
$2.00 ฿62.8
76.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 A$3.83
$0.85 ฿26.63
220.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.11
$0.35 ฿11.05
531.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.43 A$9.07
$2.21 ฿69.5
190.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57 A$10.67
$3.76 ฿118
101.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 A$2.21
$1.72 ฿54.0
-8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 A$3.14
$1.63 ฿51.4
36.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 A$3.33
$1.16 ฿36.42
103.45%
Eggs
$4.32 A$6.09
$1.98 ฿62.2
118.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 A$11.68
$15.93 ฿501
-48.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.14 A$11.48
$3.17 ฿99.6
156.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.69 A$19.30
$10.90 ฿343
25.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.67 A$5.17
$2.65 ฿83.2
38.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 A$3.98
$1.22 ฿38.45
131.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 A$4.85
$1.70 ฿53.4
102.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.97 A$5.59
$1.59 ฿49.99
149.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.39
$1.32 ฿41.63
81.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.28
$1.17 ฿36.74
99.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.03
$0.68 ฿21.31
216.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 A$1.82
$0.56 ฿17.52
130.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.97 A$45.08
$4.51 ฿142
608.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 A$20.03
$19.07 ฿600
-25.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.12 A$8.64
$1.77 ฿55.7
245.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 A$5.98
$3.18 ฿100.0
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 A$3.06
$0.96 ฿30.27
126.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.71 A$46.12
$18.90 ฿594
73.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 A$2.79
$1.36 ฿42.69
45.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 A$1.96
$1.35 ฿42.51
2.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.19 A$48.21
$8.03 ฿253
325.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.68
$1.24 ฿39.08
-4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K A$41.5K
$21.2K ฿665.4K
39.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K A$31.4K
$21.8K ฿684.0K
2.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 A$302
$71.2 ฿2,240
200.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.39 A$44.26
$14.09 ฿443
122.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.2 A$75.0
$17.47 ฿549
204.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 A$86.4
$42.07 ฿1,323
45.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.41 A$18.91
$6.88 ฿216
94.91%
Cinema Ticket
$13.05 A$18.41
$5.94 ฿187
119.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,621 A$2,286
$307 ฿9,664
427.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,763 A$12.4K
$14.8K ฿465.1K
-40.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 A$99.3
$55.7 ฿1,750
26.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.29 A$66.7
$26.79 ฿842
76.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 A$129
$83.2 ฿2,617
10.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8 A$141
$70.1 ฿2,204
42.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 A$1,832
$427 ฿13.4K
204.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$722 A$1,018
$237 ฿7,454
204.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 A$3,394
$802 ฿25.2K
200.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,764 A$2,487
$503 ฿15.8K
250.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,812 A$8,195
$2,061 ฿64.8K
182.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,948 A$6,977
$1,533 ฿48.2K
222.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surfers Paradise
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,328 A$4,693
$654 ฿20.6K
409.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
5
26.00%

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

Last update for Surfers Paradise: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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